“Hold Me” was Whitney Houston’s first single release, recorded as a duet with Teddy Pendergrass. The single came out on May 24, 1984, before Houston’s solo debut album made her a major star.
The song appeared on Pendergrass’s 1984 album Love Language and was later included on Houston’s self-titled debut album, released in 1985. Written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, it became an early showcase for Houston’s powerful voice alongside Pendergrass’s established R&B presence.
“Hold Me” reached No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 and entered the Top 5 of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A common mix-up is “Love TKO,” another well-known Pendergrass recording, but that is a solo song rather than Houston’s first single. Houston’s major solo breakthrough came later with releases from her debut album, including “You Give Good Love” and “Saving All My Love for You.”