Houston drowned in very hot water, cocaine in system

Whitney Houston performs during the World Music Awards at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada as a tribute to music mogul Clive Davis, who received the Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry Award, in this September 15, 2004 file photo.

Credit: Reuters/Ethan Miller/Files

LOS ANGELES | Thu Apr 5, 2012 2:21am EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Whitney Houston drowned in a hot bathtub in a Beverly Hills hotel room with cocaine in her system and white powder nearby, a final coroner's report revealed on Wednesday.

Detectives found white powdery substances, a rolled-up piece of paper, a small spoon and a mirror in the bathroom shortly after Houston's naked body was found face down in the bathtub on February 11, the 40-page Los Angeles County coroner's report said.

Houston, 48, had a history of drug addiction. An autopsy in March determined she died of accidental drowning due to the effects of cocaine and heart disease.

Wednesday's report revealed that Houston had a perforated nose, indicating substance abuse, filled with a bloody discharge.

Detectives said she was found in about 12 inches of extremely hot water, which was determined to be 93 Fahrenheit (34 Celsius) some six hours after her death.

The singer also had traces of marijuana in her system and an open bottle of champagne was found in her room at the Beverly Hilton, hours before she was due to attend a pre-Grammy party.

On a counter in the bathroom, detectives found "a small spoon with a crystal-like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper."

In a drawer, they found "a white powdery substance and a portable mirror on a base" together with more remnants of powder on the base of the mirror.

Wednesday's report did not identify the substance.

The "I Will Always Love You" singer appears to have been left alone in the hotel room for less than an hour. Houston had complained of a sore throat and her personal assistant advised the singer to have a bath to get ready for the party while she went to a nearby Neiman Marcus department store to pick up items for her appearance.

When the assistant returned, she found a naked Houston face down in the bathtub and unresponsive, according to the report.

Houston was one of the world's best known singers in the 1980s and 1990s with hits such as "Saving All My Love For You" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody."

But her career declined during a tumultuous, drug-fueled 15-year marriage to singer Bobby Brown. She was last known to have entered drug rehabilitation in May 2011 but celebrity media reported that she was seen drinking heavily and behaving erratically in the three or four days before her death.

Houston's family said in statement last month that they were "saddened to have learned of the toxicology results" that revealed recent cocaine use, but were glad to have closure.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Sandra Maler, Paul Simao and Lisa Shumaker)

View the original article here

Whitney Houston Drowned With Cocaine in Her System

by Billboard Staff / AP Reports  |   March 22, 2012 6:00 EDT

W hitney Houston's death on Feb. 12 was caused by accidental drowning, heart disease and the effects of cocaine use, the L.A. County Coroner's office announced on Thursday. The just-released coroner's report states Houston was found submerged in a bathtub filled with water and lists "cocaine intake" as a cause of the injury.

According to spokesman Craig Harvey, Houston, 48, had cocaine in her system and that it contributed directly to her death. Marijuana, Xanax and Flexeril, a muscle relaxant, were also found but did not contribute to her death. He says the results indicated Houston was a chronic cocaine user.

Beverly Hills police said in a statement there was no evidence of wrongdoing in connection with Houston's death. Officials had previously confirmed that prescription pills were found in the room, but no mention of cocaine.

A TMZ source that is connected to the investigation calls it "very possible" that Houston suffered a heart attack that led her to lose consciousness in the bathtub.

"We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure,' said Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and manager.

Houston died just hours before she was scheduled to appear at producer Clive Davis' pre-Grammy Awards bash.

Sister-in-Law Feared Drugs Would Take Whitney's Life

The singer was buried in a New Jersey cemetery next to her father after an emotional four-hour funeral service that was attended by friends, family and superstars such as Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson and Roberta Flack

Houston, a sensation from her first, eponymous album in 1985, was one of the world's best-selling artists from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, turning out such hits as "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," ''How Will I Know," ''The Greatest Love of All" and "I Will Always Love You." But as she struggled with drugs, her majestic voice became raspy, and she couldn't hit the high notes.

Log in to create your profile, speak your mind and connect with listeners like you.

Already a member? Sign in now, or log in with your Facebook account.

For the full Billboard experience, you need to be a member. Sign up. It's free.

Your password has been sent to the email address you provided. Please sign in below :

Log in through Facebook instead.

View the original article here

Whitney Houston drowned with cocaine in system: coroner

Esperanza Spalding sings as a portrait of Whitney Houston is displayed on the screen during the memorial segment at the 84th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, February 26, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Gary Hershorn

By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES | Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:30pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Whitney Houston died of accidental drowning due to the effects of cocaine use and heart disease, a Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman said on Thursday.

The 48-year-old singer, who spent years battling addiction to drugs including cocaine, was found submerged in the bathtub of her Beverly Hills hotel room on February 12, the eve of the Grammy Awards.

An autopsy into Houston's death found that the cause of death was accidental drowning with atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors, Los Angeles County Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said.

Harvey said toxicology tests also turned up marijuana, an anti-anxiety medication, a muscle relaxant and an anti-histamine in Houston's system.

Those drugs were not found to have contributed to her death, and no trauma or foul play were suspected, the coroner's office said. A final report was expected to be made public within two weeks.

"We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure," Patricia Houston, the pop superstar's manager and sister-in-law said in a statement on Thursday.

Houston soared to the top of the pop charts in the 1980s, best known for a string of hit songs including "I Will Always Love You." But her career declined as she battled personal issues that included drug addiction.

Patricia Houston told Oprah Winfrey in an interview this month that she had believed the pop star's worst days of drug abuse were behind her.

Members of the family told Winfrey that Houston was found face down and naked in the bathtub, and that attempts by her staff to revive her proved fruitless.

Houston was last in rehab in May 2011. But celebrity media reported that she was seen drinking heavily and behaving erratically in the three or four days before her death.

Sales and downloads of Houston's best-known songs, including "Saving All My Love for You" and "My Love is Your Love" soared around the world after her death.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Xavier Briand)

View the original article here

Sinead O'Connor: crack cocaine ended 16-day marriage

Singer Sinead O'Connor performs with reggae legend Burning Speart at the 5th Annual Jammy Awards in New York, April 26, 2005.

Credit: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton

By Kurt Orzeck

Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:43pm EST

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Move over, Whitney and Bobby.

Sinead O'Connor is wasting no time elaborating on the reasons why she broke up with her husband after 16 days of marriage. One of them? Crack cocaine.

The Irish songstress previously revealed she and fourth husband Barry Herridge went on a search for marijuana on the night of their wedding in Las Vegas.

It seems the singer's decision to bring her new husband, a drug-abuse counselor, along for a marijuana search in a seedy portion of Las Vegas on the night of their wedding wasn't such a great call.

In fact, the way O'Connor tells it, the newlyweds ended up with a drug somewhat harder than pot.

Elaborating on the "wild ride," she told British tabloid The Sun: "We ended up in a cab in some place that was quite dangerous. I wasn't scared -- but a drugs counselor. What was I thinking?

"Then I was handed a load of crack," she added. "Barry was very frightened -- that kind of messed everything up a bit, really."

Crack aside, it doesn't sound like the marriage was meant to last anyway.

"It felt like I was living in a coffin," she also told The Sun. "It was going to be a coffin for both of us, and I saw him crushed. The whole reason I ended it was out of respect and love for the man."

It seems that the experience has crushed O'Connor too -- or damaged her libido, at least. The singer -- who famously went hunting for "a very sweet sex-starved man" earlier this year -- said she doesn't plan to date anyone for awhile.

View the original article here

Sinead O'Connor: crack cocaine ended 16-day marriage (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Move over, Whitney and Bobby.

Sinead O'Connor is wasting no time elaborating on the reasons why she broke up with her husband after 16 days of marriage. One of them? Crack cocaine.

The Irish songstress previously revealed she and fourth husband Barry Herridge went on a search for marijuana on the night of their wedding in Las Vegas.

It seems the singer's decision to bring her new husband, a drug-abuse counselor, along for a marijuana search in a seedy portion of Las Vegas on the night of their wedding wasn't such a great call.

In fact, the way O'Connor tells it, the newlyweds ended up with a drug somewhat harder than pot.

Elaborating on the "wild ride," she told British tabloid The Sun: "We ended up in a cab in some place that was quite dangerous. I wasn't scared -- but a drugs counselor. What was I thinking?

"Then I was handed a load of crack," she added. "Barry was very frightened -- that kind of messed everything up a bit, really."

Crack aside, it doesn't sound like the marriage was meant to last anyway.

"It felt like I was living in a coffin," she also told The Sun. "It was going to be a coffin for both of us, and I saw him crushed. The whole reason I ended it was out of respect and love for the man."

It seems that the experience has crushed O'Connor too -- or damaged her libido, at least. The singer -- who famously went hunting for "a very sweet sex-starved man" earlier this year -- said she doesn't plan to date anyone for awhile.

View the original article here

Funk icon Sly Stone pleads not guilty to cocaine charge (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Sly Stone, the reclusive funk legend whose career was crippled by rampant drug abuse, pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine rocks on Wednesday.

The 68-year-old frontman for Sly and the Family Stone was arrested April 1 when Los Angeles police pulled over a live-in van for a minor traffic violation.

Cocaine rocks were found in the clothing of both Stone, who was a passenger, and the driver, according to the singer's defense attorneys. Both men were arrested.

"A lot of musicians hang out with people who have drugs. How are they supposed to know?" said Peter Knecht, one of his attorneys. He insisted the cocaine did not belong to Stone.

Stone, whose real name is Sylvester Stewart, is next scheduled to appear in court in the Los Angeles suburb of Van Nuys for a pretrial conference on July 19. His arraignment was originally scheduled for last Friday, but he was hospitalized for heart problems.

Stone, a veteran of the San Francisco power scene, revolutionized soul music with tunes such as "Don't Call me Nigger, Whitey" and "I Want to Take You Higher" that both fed on and fueled the political and social turmoil of the time.

His career, however, was marred by decades of run-ins with the law. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he was plagued by drug and gun possession charges.

"You can't punish a guy for what he did 40 years ago, 30 years ago," said Knecht.

Stone made his first major public appearance in almost 13 years at the Grammy Awards in 2006 when he was the object of an all-star tribute. Sporting a blond Mohawk and a shiny white jacket, he sauntered out on stage during a performance of "I Want to Take You Higher," but left before the song was over.

Stone just finished recording a new album that will be released on August 16, according to Tim Yasui, general manager for Cleopatra Records. It would mark his first album in almost 30 years.

(Editing by Dean Goodman)

View the original article here

Funk icon Sly Stone pleads not guilty to cocaine charge

Funk music pioneer Sly Stone performs during a concert with Sly & The Family Stone at the 41st Montreux Jazz Festival early July 14, 2007.

Credit: Reuters/Denis Balibouse

By Mary Slosson

LOS ANGELES | Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:36am EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sly Stone, the reclusive funk legend whose career was crippled by rampant drug abuse, pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine rocks on Wednesday.

The 68-year-old frontman for Sly and the Family Stone was arrested April 1 when Los Angeles police pulled over a live-in van for a minor traffic violation.

Cocaine rocks were found in the clothing of both Stone, who was a passenger, and the driver, according to the singer's defense attorneys. Both men were arrested.

"A lot of musicians hang out with people who have drugs. How are they supposed to know?" said Peter Knecht, one of his attorneys. He insisted the cocaine did not belong to Stone.

Stone, whose real name is Sylvester Stewart, is next scheduled to appear in court in the Los Angeles suburb of Van Nuys for a pretrial conference on July 19. His arraignment was originally scheduled for last Friday, but he was hospitalized for heart problems.

Stone, a veteran of the San Francisco power scene, revolutionized soul music with tunes such as "Don't Call me Nigger, Whitey" and "I Want to Take You Higher" that both fed on and fueled the political and social turmoil of the time.

His career, however, was marred by decades of run-ins with the law. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he was plagued by drug and gun possession charges.

"You can't punish a guy for what he did 40 years ago, 30 years ago," said Knecht.

Stone made his first major public appearance in almost 13 years at the Grammy Awards in 2006 when he was the object of an all-star tribute. Sporting a blond Mohawk and a shiny white jacket, he sauntered out on stage during a performance of "I Want to Take You Higher," but left before the song was over.

Stone just finished recording a new album that will be released on August 16, according to Tim Yasui, general manager for Cleopatra Records. It would mark his first album in almost 30 years.

(Editing by Dean Goodman)

View the original article here