Whitney Houston: How Old Was She When Clive Davis Said "Heck Yes!"?
The story of Whitney Houston and Clive Davis is a match made in music heaven. Clive, the legendary record exec with an ear for diamonds (both figurative and the kind that go on award trophies), and Whitney, the powerhouse vocalist with a voice that could melt glaciers and make angels weep. But before they were busting out the balloons and popping champagne corks over record-breaking albums, how young was Whitney when she first caught Clive's attention?
The Age of Innocence (Well, Almost)
Now, Whitney wasn't exactly a fresh-faced teenager belting out show tunes in her basement. This woman was a prodigy. By the time she was 14, she was already providing backing vocals for the Michael Zager Band (their song "Life's a Party" – clearly a premonition for Whitney's future career). But the music industry bigwigs weren't exactly lining up at her door just yet.
Enter The Man, The Myth, The Mustache: Clive Davis
Clive Davis, at the ripe old age of (drumroll please) 51, was already a music industry legend by the time Whitney sashayed onto the scene. He'd launched the careers of artists like Bruce Springsteen and Aretha Franklin, so you know he had a keen eye for talent.
A Match Made in Nightclubs (and A Little Bit of Luck)
Then, in 1983, destiny (and a determined A&R rep named Gerry Griffith) intervened. Gerry spotted Whitney, then a phenomenal 19-year-old, belting out tunes with her mom, Cissy Houston (another powerhouse vocalist in her own right). Gerry practically wrestled Clive to a nightclub (metaphorically speaking, of course) to witness Whitney's magic firsthand.
Clive Says "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Can Sing Like That)"
Needless to say, Clive was blown away. He wasn't about to let this talent slip through his fingers. Two weeks later, a nineteen-year-old Whitney Houston (with her parents' help, of course) signed a worldwide record deal with Arista Records. The rest, as they say, is history.
So, How Old Was Whitney When She Signed With Clive Davis?
Drumroll please... Whitney Houston was a mere 19 years old when she signed with Clive Davis, proving that age ain't nothin' but a number when you have a voice like hers. This chance encounter launched a career that would leave an indelible mark on the music industry, and Clive Davis, well, he probably added another diamond-encrusted trophy to his collection for this one.
💡 This page may contain affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
