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Apollo Theater Mourns 'True Music Icon' Whitney Houston

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Music superstar Whitney Houston was mourned at a New York City landmark Sunday.

The marquee at the Apollo Theater in Harlem calls her "A True Music Icon."

On Sunday afternoon, a bouquet of pink roses was at the entrance, attached to a sign reading "RIP Whitney." Also written on the sign were part of the lyrics to "Yes, Jesus Loves Me," a gospel tune that Houston sang in her last public performance during a pre-Grammy party.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reports 

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"We were blessed that she shared her gift with us. Our lives are much richer for it," fan Christine told Silverman. "

"Like the rest of us, she was human, and human beings have challenges, human beings have successes," she added.

A couple of tourists passed by, stopping to read the marquee honoring Houston and look at the bouquet atop the Apollo lettering at the entrance.

"Wow," said J.B. Quemon, 37, of Paris. "She was a diva. International."

His friend, Melanie Girard, 26, also of Paris: "She was the top, beautiful. But she lost herself."

Houston died Saturday in a hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was 48. The cause of death is unknown. Her death came on the night before music's biggest showcase, the Grammys.

Houston was a New Jersey native who got her start singing at church and went on to become an international superstar.

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