BOSTON -- Singer Whitney Houston’s death is hitting hard in Boston. Students who were born after Houston became a star in the 80's are well aware of the Newark native's legacy.

“I don't see how anyone can not be touched by her passing. Whitney is as much of an icon to me as Elvis Presley, as Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, and the list goes on and on,” Brandon Maclin, senior at Berklee College of Music.

At the Berklee College of Music, students who hope to become stars are learning from singer Donna McElroy, who has sung with various country artists including Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.

“She was a singer’s singer. You could pitch her anything and I think she could sing the phone book,” said Professor Donna McElroy, Berklee College of Music.

Over at the radio station Kiss 108, morning man Matt Siegel said Whitney Houston has gotten a lot of airplay over the years, and the station's concert with Houston on the Boston common was the biggest one they had.

“For Kiss 108 there was Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. Those are our big three giant acts from the mid 80’s into the maybe, mid 90’s. And two out of three are gone,” Siegel said.

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