(CNN) -- Another musical titan whose soaring voice ruled the charts for decades has fallen. 

Whitney Houston joins an august list of the departed since Michael Jackson's death nearly three years ago. 

"First there was MJ, then there was Heavy D and now Whitney," said Shaun Jones, 47, of Titusville, Florida, adding that he jumped out of bed in disbelief when he heard news of Houston's death. 

Rapper Heavy D died last year, as did Nick Ashford, who was one half of the Motown duo Ashford and Simpson. 

And in late 2010, singer Mary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, died in her sleep. 

"It's shocking ... all these people are legends. A lot of them are dying too young. It's crazy." 

Pop icons such as Houston enjoyed staggering success through the 1980s and into the 1990s, and served as role models to a generation of singers today. 

Announcements about their deaths are always almost followed by tributes from younger pop stars acknowledging how much influence they've had on their careers. 

"Icons from that era stood out," Jones said. "They had distinct voices -- I can always tell when a song is by Whitney -- they made music back then." 

Houston was a "hero for Gen X black girls," said CNN iReporter Tessa Jackson of New Orleans. She said when she was "a black teenager going to a predominantly white high school in California, Whitney was my style icon and hero ... She made me and other girls like me feel like we didn't have to be blonde and blue-eyed to be beautiful and admired. I wish she knew how much she did for my and my friends' self-esteem." 
Who died in her sleep?
In what year?
Who died in August?
How many years seperate Houston and Jackson's death?
Which rapper died last year?
Which Motown singer died the same year?
What duo did he participate in?
What always follows icons' death announcements?
Who was Huston a role model for?
Who described her as a "style icon and hero"?
What is her profession?
For which company?
Where did she go to school?
Did she fit in?
What was the perceived beauty norm at her school?
Did Whitney Houston help build her self esteem?
In what decades did Houston have the highest success?
Who described the fallen icons as legends?
How old is he?
Was he shocked to hear the news surrounding Houston's death?
Mary Christine Brockert (Teena Marie)
Mary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, died in her sleep. 
2010
in late 2010, singer Mary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, died in her sleep. 
unknown
unknown
nearly three years
Whitney Houston joins an august list of the departed since Michael Jackson's death nearly three years ago. 
Heavy D
Rapper Heavy D died last year
Nick Ashford
died last year, as did Nick Ashford, who was one half of the Motown duo Ashford and Simpson
Ashford and Simpson
Nick Ashford, who was one half of the Motown duo Ashford and Simpson.
tributes from younger pop stars
their deaths are always almost followed by tributes from younger pop stars acknowledging how much influence they've had on their careers. 
Gen X black girls
Houston was a "hero for Gen X black girls,"
Tessa Jackson
CNN iReporter Tessa Jackson of New Orleans. She said when she was "a black teenager going to a predominantly white high school in California, Whitney was my style icon and hero
a reporter
CNN iReporter Tessa Jackson
CNN
CNN iReporter Tessa Jackson
California
She said when she was "a black teenager going to a predominantly white high school in California
no
a black teenager going to a predominantly white high school in California
blonde and blue-eyed
to be blonde and blue-eyed to be beautiful and admired.
Yes
Whitney was my style icon and hero ... She made me and other girls like me feel like we didn't have to be blonde and blue-eyed to be beautiful and admired. I wish she knew how much she did for my and my friends' self-esteem." 
1980s and 90s
Houston enjoyed staggering success through the 1980s and into the 1990s
Shaun Jones
said Shaun Jones, 47, of Titusville, Florida, adding that he jumped out of bed in disbelief when he heard news of Houston's death. 

Rapper Heavy D died last year, as did Nick Ashford, who was one half of the Motown duo Ashford and Simpson. 

And in late 2010, singer Mary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, died in her sleep. 

"It's shocking ... all these people are legends. A lot of them are dying too young. It's crazy." 
47
said Shaun Jones, 47
yes
adding that he jumped out of bed in disbelief when he heard news of Houston's death. 