Trafalgar Releasing and Sony Music Entertainment in partnership with The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation and Primary Wave Music today announced the 30th Anniversary celebration of Whitney Houston’s historic South Africa concerts with a fully-remastered worldwide theatrical release October 23rd and 27th. The limited theatrical screenings will feature the never-before-released concert from Durban, South Africa, which has been beautifully remastered in 4K with remastered audio. Tickets for the theatrical screenings are on sale now, click here for further details. The release of the new live album, The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban), will be released on November 8th.
In 1994, Whitney Houston took the stage for a series of three concerts in South Africa including Durban at Kings Park Stadium on November 8, Johannesburg (November 12), and Cape Town (November 19), which made her the first major Western recording artists to perform in the newly unified, post-apartheid nation following President Nelson Mandela’s historic election win. The three performances included a combined 200,000 plus attendees and were more than concerts; they were a celebration of freedom, hope, and unity. Whitney’s powerhouse voice and emotional delivery brought joy and inspiration to a country newly liberated. Additionally, portions of the proceeds from her concerts benefited numerous local South African children’s charities through her foundation.
In addition, Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban), a new live album featuring from the unprecedented show including Whitney’s greatest hits, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “How Will I Know,” “I Have Nothing,” “Greatest Love of All,” “I Will Always Love You,” and other landmark classics including “Amazing Grace” and “Home.” The new album also features the previously unreleased track, “Love Is.” The collection will be available on CD and vinyl for the first time ever starting November 8, and is available for pre-order here. For a complete track listing, click here.
The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban) captures every note, every cheer, every tear, immortalizing a night that transcended music and became a beacon of change and celebration.
“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Sony Music and bring Whitney Houston’s legendary never-before-seen concert to audiences worldwide,” says Marc Allenby, CEO, Trafalgar Releasing. “The message of hope and unity from the Durban, South Africa performance is still as relevant today as it was thirty years ago, and fans are going to be blown away by how powerful this is on the big screen.”
“I know that Whitney would have been filled with joy to know that this concert film will be released around the world to her fans,” says Pat Houston, executive producer and executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston. “She loved South Africa; she loved the people, and she loved Nelson Mandela. This concert is one of the most consequential concerts of her career. On this momentous 30thAnniversary, we are thrilled that we can release this film not only to her fans, but to the people of South Africa and its new generation. More importantly, Whitney would be happy to know that her foundation continues to support one of the organizations she helped to provide financial support to thirty years ago.”
“Whitney was a dream to work with; I really loved her,” says producer and director Marty Callner. “I directed her several times, but the Durban show was pure magic and the best performance I have ever witnessed. So thrilled the world finally gets to experience that special, special night.”
“Performing in Durban with Whitney was an amazing experience,” says Rickey Minor, three-time Emmy Award winner, who was Whitney’s musical director for twenty-five years. “It was my first time in South Africa, and I don’t think that I was truly prepared for how this trip would change me forever. The energy was electric, and the audience was incredible, as we celebrated the end of apartheid. Whitney shared her love and shined her light.”
With more than 220 million combined albums, singles and videos sold worldwide during her career, Whitney Houston has established a benchmark for superstardom. She is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, has eight multi-platinum albums and was the first female artist to enter the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 1. She is also the first Black recording artist to receive three RIAA Diamond-certified albums (by a female, male or group).
Whitney Houston – The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban) is a film produced and directed by Marty Callner. It is a production of Cream Cheese Films. Executive producer is Pat Houston. Sony Music Vision is the distributor.
Event Dates: In nearly 900 cinemas in more than 25 countries on October 23 and 27
Film Website: http://www.WhitneySouthAfrica.com
About Trafalgar Releasing
Trafalgar Releasing, the global leader in event cinema distribution, harnesses the power of cinema to bring fans together in more than 15,000 cinemas across 132 countries. A subsidiary of Trafalgar Entertainment, Trafalgar Releasing’s operations include production, acquisition, marketing, and distribution of live or pre-recorded content to cinemas worldwide led by an international team based in the UK, US and Germany. Featuring live concerts, music documentaries, world-class opera, award-winning theatre, and more from leading names in entertainment such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, BTS, Metallica, Oasis, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, the Royal Opera House and others, Trafalgar Releasing has repeatedly shattered event cinema box office records, most recently with international distribution for TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR, the highest-grossing concert film of all time. Information about Trafalgar Releasing can be found at www.trafalgar-releasing.com.
About Sony Music Vision
At Sony Music Vision, we bring film and television storytelling to life for our industry-leading creative talent and iconic music catalog around the world. We pair world class filmmakers with groundbreaking and legendary artists to create, finance, produce and distribute powerful content that features unique access to our archives and vast portfolio of music. A full-service content studio, we collaborate globally across the Sony entertainment companies to engage audiences with premium film and TV projects, including documentary and narrative feature films, as well as television specials and unscripted and scripted series.
About Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is home to the world’s foremost library of historically significant commercial recordings, a peerless collection of works by the most important musical artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Across a variety of platforms, the label offers contemporary music fans access to thousands of meticulously restored archival titles representing virtually every musical genre.
About Primary Wave Music
Primary Wave Music is the leading independent publisher of iconic and legendary music in the world. The company is home to some of the most iconic songwriters, artists, and record labels across the history of recorded music. The songs represented by Primary Wave Music include over 1,000 Top 10 singles and over 400 #1 hits. Throughout the company’s 15-year existence, Primary Wave Music has embraced an entrepreneurial spirit, offering and executing proactive one-of-a-kind ideas, unique services and marketing campaigns for our artists. https://PrimaryWave.com/
About The Estate of Whitney E. Houston
The Estate of Whitney E. Houston was established in 2012, following the death of the international renowned superstar. Led, managed, and administered by Executor Pat Houston, the mission of the Estate is to further expand the global legacy of Whitney Houston. Through its partnership with Primary Wave Music, the Estate will continue the work of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, as well as the expansion of music recordings, film, television, and theatrical projects; brand development, and new partnerships and initiatives that authentically represent Whitney Houston’s voice and heart for service, young people, education, and community.
About The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation
In 2020, the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation was formed as a continuation of The Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, initially established in 1989. The mission of the foundation was part of her journey to rebuild lives, restore self-esteem and repair images through grassroots programs and initiatives for today’s youth globally. In 1997, through the outstanding charitable work of the foundation, Whitney E. Houston’s elementary school was renamed The Whitney E. Houston Academy for Performing & Creative Arts. Originally opened in 1873 as Franklin School and is now the oldest building in the East Orange, New Jersey’s school district. https://WhitneyHoustonFoundation.org/
