In 2016, Whitney Houston will come "back to life" in the form of a digital hologram as part of a deal between Hologram USA and the iconic singer's estate. Alki David, the company's CEO, discussed the impending touring stage show with Billboard as well as debunking preconceived ideas of what the show would bring about.
"The show will not just be Whitney comes on, sings and gets off," David explained. "The narrative will document parts of her life, her achievements and celebrate Whitney." The script is undergoing finalization but David noted that the "performance" would mix "live components" with the digital version of the "I Will Always Love You" singer, comparable to the interaction between Snoop Dogg and 2012's Coachella Tupac Shakur hologram. The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and Selena are two artists also rumored to manifest in digital form.
"The musical arrangement, the choreography right down to the lighting and the design will be done with the original artists and original technicians and composers who worked with Whitney in the past so as to maintain absolute authenticity," David said.
Hologram USA has previous experience transforming musical acts into digital technology. Chief Keef previously "performed' via David's FilmOn.com as a hologram at a festival in Indiana even though the gig was quickly shut down after Chief Keef's "I Don't Like." According to Rolling Stone, Hologram USA is currently working on holographic shows boasting appearances by Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Liberace and Buddy Holly.
"I was heartbroken when Whitney passed away in 2012," FilmOn and Hologram USA CEO Alki David said in a statement after closing on a deal with Whitney Houston's sister and president of the estate, Pat Houston. "The opportunity to share her spectacular gifts with the world again is exactly what I hoped for when I built the hologram business. I'm confident we'll create the ultimate celebration of Whitney's amazing artistry."
Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of the Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, recently passed away at the young age of 22, shortly trailing the death of her mother.
