The death of Whitney Houston has left a hole in the heart of her devoted fans and the musical industry who adored her.

The 48-year-old drug-addled singer's death in Los Angeles yesterday as she was preparing to attend The Grammy Award's was tinged with a sad irony.

Born in 1963 in New Jersey, Houston followed her mother, Cissy Houston, and her famous godmother, Aretha Franklin, into a life as a soul singer.

Houston became a household name in 1985 when she released her self titled debut album, which included the classic '80s hits Saving All My Love for You and The Greatest Love of All.

The following two decades saw Houston become one of the biggest selling female artists of all time and a bona fide pop-soul diva.

In the early 1990s she admitted to having a serious substance abuse problem that she was unable to kick over the next two decades.

Her death is being investigated by the LA coroners office.