Clive Davis discovered Whitney Houston and helped sign her to Arista Records.
In 1983, Davis saw the 19-year-old Houston perform at a New York nightclub, where she appeared with her mother, gospel and soul singer Cissy Houston. Arista A&R executive Gerry Griffith had helped bring Houston to Davis’s attention. Davis recognized her unusually powerful voice and became her principal champion at the label.
Houston’s recording career did not begin with an immediate album. Arista spent roughly two years finding suitable songs and producers for her debut. The result was Whitney Houston, released in 1985, which became one of the most successful debut albums in popular music and established her as a global star.
A common mix-up is confusing Davis with other influential executives or producers who worked with Houston later. Davis was the Arista executive who discovered her, signed her, and remained a major mentor throughout her career.