Too late for Whitney
Zinhle Ntuli
World renowned music producer Quincy Jones last night cast doubt on prospects of rehabilitating waning superstar Whitney Houston, who is caught up in a drug addiction.
"It is too late to save Whitney now," Jones said in Johannesburg last night.
He was involved in attempts to rescue the once best selling Whitney from the grip of drug addiction early in her career.
The megastar has reportedly reached rock bottom and spends her days in crackhouses.
"It breaks my heart to see her like this, and it's not like she was in any trouble at all. It's sad that she's lost a lot," Jones said.
Jones said when he discovered Whitney's problem, he was due to produce her album. That did not happen.
"To help such a person one will have to take the time and find out what the problem is. You have to be from the 'academy of success' to understand why some of the people in the entertainment industry end up using drugs.
"You cannot feel what another person is going through unless you are in their shoes," he added.
Jones said the problem with most artists is that when they got into the industry they hired their families.
"They get their aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers and brothers - people who know nothing about the industry to be their managers.
"These are people whom they will take all over the world and make them feel like they can conquer everything. Sadly, that's not the case. In this industry you need people who can challenge you. A real friend will tell you when you are wrong," said Jones.
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