Gerry Griffith, Arista Records VP Who Found Whitney Houston, Dies
Gerry Griffith, the former Arista Records A&R vice president who discovered Whitney Houston, died November 5 in Brooklyn at 87 after a five-year battle with dementia. Colleagues say he never got full credit for bringing the singer to the label.
Gerry Griffith, the former Arista Records vice president of A&R (artists and repertoire) who discovered Whitney Houston, died on November 5 in Brooklyn, New York, at age 87. He had been battling dementia for five years.
Griffith helped launch one of the best-known careers in pop music. He also worked with a long list of other major artists across pop, R&B, soul and jazz.
He first heard Houston in 1979, when she was 16 and performing with her mother, Cissy Houston. In 1983 he saw her sing with her mother again and was even more captivated.
Rumors were spreading that another label was close to signing the newcomer. Griffith persuaded then-Arista chief Clive Davis to attend a showcase, and Houston signed with Arista that same year.
Looking back in 2012, after Houston's death, Griffith said: "It takes more than just talent, and that's what Whitney had at such a young age." He added that she showed "a fearless confidence and stage presence" besides her voice.
Brenda Andrews, a former senior vice president of Rondor Music International, said Griffith "never got the accolades he so deserved for discovering Whitney Houston." She said he gave her "two hits out of the box" with the singer.
Manager and publisher Deirdre O'Hara said she was proud to have urged Griffith to see Houston early in her own publishing career. He then brought Davis to see the singer.
Ray Harris, chairman emeritus and co-founder of the Living Legends Foundation, called Griffith "a truly great record executive and a truly nice guy." Harris said those who knew him admired both his talent and his character.
At Arista, Griffith worked with Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Phyllis Hyman, Minnie Riperton, Jennifer Holiday and jazz musician Dave Valentin. He also worked with Carlos Santana during the guitarist's career resurgence with the Grammy Award-winning album Supernatural. Its tracklist included the Hot 100 chart-topping "Smooth," featuring Rob Thomas.
A Chicago native, Griffith served in the U.S. Army before starting his music career. He later held a senior A&R post at Manhattan Records, part of EMI, where he worked with singer-songwriter Richard Marx.
His artist-development experience fed into film soundtracks, including 1990's Pretty Woman and 1992's The Bodyguard. The Bodyguard album featured Houston's "I Will Always Love You," "I Have Nothing" and "Run to You." It won the Grammy Award for album of the year.
Griffith is survived by two daughters and two sons. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
