A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston

is the relationship between Robyn Crawford and Whitney Houston. “A Song For You” begins with Robyn at 18 and Whitney at 15, their first meeting in E. Orange, New Jersey and continues thru every event of their turbulent life together and concludes with Whitney’s funeral. Nothing is held back.Crawford discusses her personal experiences loving Whitney, working for her and worrying about her. It was an all consuming job and life. This is highly evidenced with the sacrifices she made in her own family and with her own career in basketball. She shares her view and perspective on Whitney’s family, employee’s and famous friends. Much of this book is dark but the over riding feeling is one of love and care and perhaps, co-dependency.The writing style is familiar and comfortable and it’s professionally published and edited. A few pictures of Robyn, Whitney and their family and friends are included at the end. There are no warnings for language or sexual content but as you might surmise, there are many incidents of physical abuse and drug use.Robyn’s sole purpose in writing was to dispel the inaccuracies about herself and Whitney and to honor her friend. I think she was successful📚

Excellent read. Other than the obvious spelling errors and grammatical mistakes, this book is well written. Robyn tells the tales with love but is also candid in her approach, letting us in on some the things we all knew led to Whitney’s downfall. I wish this story had a different ending, but we all know it is what it is. My take away is that Whitney was ruined by her family, and her isolation and mistreatment by her husband is what led her into an uncontrollable downward spiral. Sad. Sad that she was surrounded by so many so-called friends and family, but she was really alone. If only these two had reconnected. If only she didn’t do that last tour. If only she listened to Eddie Murphy the morning of her wedding. Too many if onlys. It’s wonderful that Robyn humanized her - beyond the big star we saw her as. I hope this closes all talk and she finally rests in peace. I also hope her family members have learned better and are better human beings!

I chose this book because I wanted a better look at the woman who was a phenomenal singer. Robyn wrote this book in a way that was non judgmental. I'll never understand why her father/mom did not advocate for her more. I guess Bobbie Brown was right..... he didn't introduce Whitney to drugs but he sure had a hand in making it worse. So sorry that her life was ended in such a public and undignified way. Still a fan forever. However, I'm also a fan of Robyn after this book. Bravo Robyn.

This is a stunning read and beautiful tribute to love. Love comes in many different forms and this friendship was certainly one for the ages. This is a story that deserved to be told and Robyn did a beautiful job telling her truth. I highly recommend this read!

I can feel Robyn’s love and care for Whitney throughout this book and in every interview she’s done as she spoken about the writing of this book. Her words are measured and her empathy for her lifelong friend is evident. Whitney Houston was blessed to have her love and friendship for over two decades.It seems that even in this writing, she is still enabling and protecting Whitney’s legacy - which while reading, I loved and hated. She mildly spoke about incessant drug use as if it remained recreational. I was looking for more in-depth details about the singer’s decisions and what could have prompted them. I was reading each page and story, thinking that there was probably so much more to share but Crawford still chose to taper her storytelling to protect Houston. This makes me wonder who held the beloved singer accountable - and why they waited so long to confront her about her choices and addiction.I was impressed with Crawford’s ability to share her personal story of love, family, and self-care while balancing her reflection of her relationship with Houston. Her role as caretaker clearly saved her life but almost destroyed it. I was able to see why Crawford remained loyal to Houston for so long and how her choice impacted her ability to walk away when she believed it was the right time.I found myself believing that Crawford dismissed many of her feelings of loss, jealousy, and heartbreak as Whitney’s career and romantic life started to soar. There is a lesson to be learned when a person experiencing psychological loss while still choosing to interacting with a human being who caused the loss. Perhaps, Crawford was writing from a place of not quite knowing the lasting effects of her relationship with Houston. She seems to reconcile her feelings at the end of the book.Crawford gracefully shows us how to love and leave a person, something we are often afraid to do for many reasons. But I wanted more dangerous storytelling and more risk-taking.

Robin Crawford did an excellent job telling her story, it was tastefully done. She answered the question everyone asked and gave the inside scoop on her and Whitney Houston's life and their friendship. A job well done

What a beautiful story of unconditional love! It was hard for me to put the book down once I began to read it. Ms. Crawford wrote from a candid point of view (in my opinion) which made the book an excellent read. As a Whitney Houston fan, I thank Robyn for shedding light in the life of an amazing singer, and sharing highlights of her life as well.

This is A Story that is Beautifully Written. It has nothing but Love in it For Whitney. You made us feel your journey with her RobynThank you for Sharing With Us. Her Fan's That Still Love and Miss Her. It made me cry

There are a handful of singers who, when you hear their voice for the first time give you a "wow" moment and a tingle that touches you deep.Whitney gave me that when I first heard "Saving all my love for you."I am a similar age and many of her songs became part of the soundtrack of my life and to me, she had it all - a staggering beauty, elegance, success, financial security and a peerless voice. Stunning.God gave her the lot.Or did He.....I read the rumours about drugs and I saw the photos. I struggled to understand why a woman so gifted would fall into drugs so heavily.Why would she abuse that God given talent?Why isn't her voice, beauty and success enough??Why did she need to get high? And higher? And so much higher that her looks and voice were being ruined?Then I read about Robyn and I read quotes from Cissy - and I saw film footage of Cissy and it all fell into place.A sadly all too frequent case of a person not allowed to be their true selves and the suppression of their true self causing severe problems along the line. Keeping a secret and not being allowed to be their true self takes its toll.Whitney and Robyn's love was hidden and although people around them were happy to "allow" Robyn to be openly gay, they would not extend that "permission" to Whitney - oh no, the record company and her Mother would not permit it.And what a mother. Some call her great. Some call her strong.I call her bigoted and domineering.All her kids were messed up.They were on drugs from being teenagers - so the reason why a woman so gifted as Whitney would fall so deeply into drugs has its roots right there.In a section of the book where Robyn's mother sees Cissy "holding court" with her Church friends, Mrs Crawford is shocked by Cissy's bad behaviour and bad language and comments later, "and she calls herself a woman of God."Sums it up, really.Whitney ended her physical relationship with Robyn but still needed her close, but eventually Robyn was driven out.As Whitney became a cash cow for many people, Robyn was a threat to them.So she was eased out.Homophobia played its part here because Whitney was torn - she was convinced by people that her career would be ruined if she was open about her relationship with Robyn.Clearly Whitney wanted, no, needed that career but having to give up her love was part of the reason the drug taking became an addiction too strong for her to fight.Robyn was left on the outside looking in and when Bobby Brown and his family came on the scene, Robyn was totally excommunicated.Robyn tells her side of the story with dignity.She does not descend into name-calling or trashing people, she merely tells the story of her life and the people in it.She knew Whitney needed help but after her banishment she was not allowed back inside the inner circle. Whitney was beyond her reach and was lost. It was only a matter of time.I am glad Robyn has now found love and is living a happy family life with no secrets.Bigoted people who hide behind their religion have a lot to answer for.And so do homophobic people.Also greedy people who only care about how much money an Artist can make and how much of it they can grab from them without any thought for the Artist's wellbeing.If "they" had let Whitney be open about her relationship with Robyn, then maybe a huge message would have got through and gone some way to stamping out homophobia.Instead it was swept under the carpet and was the probable cause of the downward spiral of such a talented performer.The true self ought not to be suppressed.If people were allowed to just be themselves then maybe there would be fewer tragic endings to lives like those of Whitney Houston and her daughter.Thank you Robyn Crawford for finalling putting in the missing piece of the jigsaw.It all makes sense now.

I decided to read this book after all the doom and gloom going on in the world, I needed a book that had some humanity, love and a warm hug and that's exactly what I got with this book. I consumed it within 3 days.I'm a Whitney Houston fan and it pained me to see her in the state she was in during her final years, particularly in the early 00's. As this once classy woman who had so much talent, that I watched and enjoyed as a child in the 80's and grew up listening to, turned into a shadow of her former self. It was too upsetting to watch.Robyn was and is a genuine person who really cared and loved Whitney for Whitney or "Nippy" (as she was affectionately called by close friends and family). Robyn wanted nothing in return and I honestly don't believe that she was an "opportunist" like Cissy and Gary Houston keep mentioning in interviews. No-one who worked with Robyn has a bad word to say about her, not one! Only Whitney's family and that alone speaks volumes as this "concern" was coming from another place and not Whitney's well-being, but merely as their cash-cow.The saddest part about all of this; Whitney was in love with Robyn, I truly believe that, but because of being raised in the church and Whitney's religious beliefs, a relationship with a woman was not permitted during her time. Had this been today, Whitney would be alive and no doubt living her life with Robyn as there are a lot of entertainers today who are openly gay/bisexual and no-one bats an eyelid. They are simply living their authentic lives as people today are far more tolerant and empathetic, which is so refreshing and shows as a society how far we have come and how archaic this world once was.How do I know Whitney was in love with Robyn? Well firstly there is no way a woman let alone anyone would allow someone who they have been intimate with in the past to be around their spouse (in this case Bobby Brown) yet alone in their lives (working relationship or not) unless they deeply cared for them, just no way! Another thing; when Robyn stopped working for Whitney in 2000 that is when Whitney's life and drug use just spiralled out of control. Coincidence? I think not. That was someone who was suffering from a broken heart and was trying to ask for help and even Robyn herself said Whitney had too much pride. The one person who cared and loved Whitney for her when those feelings were clearly reciprocated, but couldn't openly express this to, was now gone and Whitney was left with people who just wanted to take advantage of her and didn't care how she felt or what another tour would do to her psychologically and physically. She needed to rest.Bobby knew that Whitney loved him, but he also knew she wasn't in love with him and only married him to shrug off the gay rumours. He even admitted had Whitney's sexuality been accepted by her family and Robyn been around, Whitney would still be alive today. Which explains Bobby's behaviour at the time, which I don't condone or really feel there was an excuse for. When Whitney and himself were married; you have a wife who is a bigger star than yourself, everyone loves, respects and adores her, her career is huge and soaring making more money in the relationship, she really and truly loves someone else and you are the fall guy. That's a recipe for disaster for someone with an ego who loves to be the centre of attention.As for Robyn, what a classy and lovely lady. I've seen her in interviews and she's nothing, but gracious, classy and well spoken. She didn't bad mouth a soul, not one and I'm sure she had more to say about people who mistreated her. I’ve read both Bobby Brown and Cissy Houston’s biographies and we didn’t fully see Whitney the person or truly get to know her like Robyn allowed us to. Robyn really knew Whitney better than anyone and she humanised her throughout this book and made sure Whitney was present on every single page.The title of this book is another wink to Robyn and Whitney’s love. Robyn explained that she always wanted Whitney to perform “A song for you”, but Whitney didn’t feel she was ready as she was too young and inexperienced. However, years later at the 1991 Welcome home heroes concert, Whitney sang this song and Robyn herself mentioned when she sang she sounded like she was in agony. It sounded INCREDIBLE and Whitney never sang it again until she put it on her last and final album, I look to you, in 2009.I strongly believe that there is a lot more that Robyn knew, saw and did, but she's kept that private by honouring Whitney even after 40 years of friendship especially when Whitney is no longer on this earth, she remains loyal. Robyn is a truly special person and Whitney was so blessed to have someone like that in her life.Robyn Crawford, you wanted to honour your friend and I believe you truly did that. Bravo!!!

Robyn was the true and only Bodyguard. A book that is honest, measured, and with great dignity. Comes at just the right time, long after all opportunists and leeches had their say. Written with everlasting loyalty, love and respect. An account that Robyn Crawford deserves to give. It’s her life too.

I grew up on Whitney Houston music, My mother and I still to this day sing our hearts out if Whitney comes on, which makes this book even sadder for me. Don't get me wrong, well written and I loved finally hearing Robyns side of things, but wow. There was two people in the whole world looking out for Whitneys wellbeing and Robyn was one of them. Really sad but beautifully written book about the Queen of soul.

Honest and personal account of her life with Whitney Houston and the effect of stardom, fame and showbusiness. It feels also like a liberation of sorts, releasing the story in a very personal way, touchingly written.