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Bay Area Mourns Death Of Singer, Actress Whitney Houston, Dead At 48

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF / AP) – Bay Area fans were shocked and saddened by the news of the death of Whitney Houston.  Many still recall seeing her at the peak of her performance when her 'Bodyguard Tour' came to the San Jose Arena in 1994.

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Houston reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use. She was 48.

Police in Beverly Hills said Houston died in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Police Lt. Mark Rosen said in a news conference that the 48-year-old's body was still in her fourth-floor hotel room while detectives investigated her death.

He said police received a 911 call shortly before 4 p.m. local time, and paramedics who were already at the hotel quickly went to her room, but couldn't resuscitate her.

Houston's death comes on the eve of the Grammy Awards. A representative says she was to appear at tonight's annual concert and dinner for her longtime mentor Clive Davis.

A person who had been at rehearsals for the show, says on Thursday Houston appeared disheveled and was sweating profusely as she coached R&B singers Brandy and Monica. The person also says liquor and cigarettes could be smelled on Houston's breath.

TMZ is reporting  there are no signs of foul play.

Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause of her death was unclear.

At her peak in the 1980s and `90s, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world's best-selling artists.

Among her hits were "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love for You" and "I Will Always Love You." She won multiple Grammys,  including album and record of the year.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies like "The Bodyguard."

In 2012, Houston was making her big-screen return, co-starring with Jordin Sparks in the remake of the 1976 film "Sparkle." The movie is set to hit theaters on August 10.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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