Clive Davis: Cigarettes -- Not Drugs -- Kept Whitney From Regaining Her Voice
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- Legendary music mogul Clive Davis talks to the Wall Street Journal's Lee Hawkins about his autobiography, 'The Soundtrack of My Life' and his decades-long career. He also opens up about his feelings that Whitney Houston should have never toured late in her career and that cigarette smoking -- not drugs -- was what kept her from regaining her vocal ability.
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It all ties in together Smoking,drinking,drugs, caffeine,not getting the proper rest.l am shocked her voice lasted as long as it did! We are so fortunate for the music she gave us.
Whitney wasn’t a drinker she would drink hear & there
You are correct Susan. I was a D- list singer on a much smaller level in the 70s and the 80s. I also was a smoker. I know that smoking and some recreational cocaine use ruined my vocal ability. 20 years later I no longer had the voice needed to do what I loved to do. My voice became hoarse in certain ranges and singing was no longer possible.
Don’t Call Yourself AnD Lost Singer. Hid Have Me A Wonderful Voice Which I Never Raised But I Would Never Call Myself A D Lost Singer And I Didn’t Even Reach The Level You Did ❤️
And her type of singing really was using her full voice through all its range and plenty of power, crafted and supported with exquisite skill and artistry of course...but every singer feels the changes deeply and instantly. That's why you gotta cut em slack when they're freaking out.
@@orangebetsy smoking greatly interferes with how much control you have to flow air over your vocal cords. It's not just great vocal chords you have, but the ability to deliver the air flow over them.
That extraordinary voice he's referring to is an incredibly rare and precious gem, it's a one in a billion rarity. It's truly disheartening to think about its loss.
Whitney Houston hands down had a god given gifted voice. She WAS THE VOICE. Unfortunatley a gift like that only comes once in a life time. She was so special!
gentics not good
She had a pretty voice, but it was not the best. Others have such a control on their voices, it's amazing..
@@aces.9738 The best? Whitney had a gift, period no need to compare her to others she was unique!
@@aces.9738 she is a prodigy… no one can touch her ability
if it was god given lol she would have kept her voice and cigarettes would not have affected her voice at all. But she is a human being, and our origins are Earthly.. gods are a delusion of the human species. Since she's Earthly, her body is a biological and organic instrument of her environment, and cigarettes affected her vocals. Her diet did too, likely, as did everything she ingested, during her time here. That is reality.
The incredible voice of Whitney Houston will live on as a National Treasure...R.I.P.
I so agree with Clive!!!! Smoking Cigarettes is so glorified is our country, not so much now, but especially in the 60's 70's. It causes Cancer and so many other very serious health issues. It is horribly sad that Cigarettes are not banned in our country as they should be, they cause much more harm to people as they are a drug just like any other drug. How many lives have been lost because of Cancer and smoking.
There was a line in the new Whitney Houston biopic when Whitney pulls out a cigarette in front of Clive and he said “that’s like leaving a Stradivarius out in the rain”. I thought it was an apt description of the carelessness Whitney had for her voice. I get that it was a coping mechanism for her, but her very livelihood was on the line with each cigarette she took. Very very sad.
@Adam Efimoff aren’t you missing the point?
She suffered from addiction. It’s a physical/chemical disease. Some people just can’t beat it.
@Adam Efimoff No!!
That voice is a one in a billion rarity. I'd argue that it's even more precious than a Stradivarius.
Some Of Is May B Over Doers. I Think Whitney Over Did Her Voice; It Was Go Good & Great And She Kept Seeing Where She Could Take It.
Whitney Houston will always remain that beautiful young woman on the cover of her album Whitney in the white t-shirt. Her voice brings us so much joy. Thank you Clive Davis for signing her.
He asked the right questions and Clyde answered well. RIP “The Voice”❤
If my memory serves me right, her autopsy report revealed an intact larynx. Her vocal instrument was in good shape, but it was her lungs that sustained damage due to emphysema.
+peter jones dela cruz Which was the reason she took so many breaths when she sang. Also the emphysema causes a lot of coughing, which damages the vocal folds.
TheLanard Yup, the breathlessness was pretty much evident during her Nothing But Love tour. About the cough irritating your vocal folks, yes, I know. I have a cough right now, and I can't belt, do seamless transition between registers, and access my top notes.
It's also acid reflux, talking loudly, and hard sneezing that does your vocal folds in. Whitney started having breathing problem back in the mid nineties. Her voice was still strong, but she took more breaths to get through phrases and rushed through lines to take those extra breaths. I started having problems after developing allergies to dogs and mold.
***** I don't think her voice recovered from all the heavy touring in 1993-1994. It got weaker in 1995-1997. Her voice had changed since then.
whitney houston voice change because she started smoking heavy i don't think it was that tour i think it was smoking she started to have cause remember on the im your baby tonight tour and the moment of truth tour she tour and hundred something date then and still had her voice I'm like clive it was the cigarette habits she was a chain smoker i think in 1999 she either quit smoking or slow down because her voice sounded so different on that tour it was like her voice was returning back
This interviewer is very good ,asks all the right questions and isn't afraid to push for a answer
Darren T how were they prepared and by who, why, was the interviewer s questioning ok , yep, maybe, seriously, honestly............
Yes and doesn’t interrupt like some interviewers do… which I dislike so much..
What’s the point of asking the question if you don’t give the person the chance to answer 🤷🏽♀️🙄
Cigarettes might've helped lost her voice but hard drugs helped lost her life....A real sad story.
What a great interviewer with a legend in the music industry
Mad respect for Davis for his vast knowledge and influence in being able to give us such great artists!
I Look to You was a fantastic album. If you listen now, you can tell it was definitely a sound of it's time (2009) but there are many classic timeless records on there. Her voice matured but it still had that gold essence that only Whitney could bring with her voice and talent.
Very well said! It's a beautiful album! Actually, it's my favorite. It gives my courage to keep pushing.
Agreed. I revisited it again recently and the uptempo tracks (bar the brilliant Million Dollar Bill) have dated badly. Which is disappointing.
I’m A Call You Tonight 😊
@@AndreaTAndreaT A classic
@@AndreaTAndreaT I will be there…just soon as I get home 🤣🤣that’s my bop.
Wow, I’m soooo proud that Clive choose to be honest and real about drugs and smoking. It true too! 🙂
Clive is sincere and I definitely believe he had Whitney’s best interests at Heart.❤
Agree
This was a great interview. Clive knows music, talent, business, and the industry. You can learn a lot from this man.
He’s the devil
Yeah how to exploit people and dispose of them when they are no longer beneficial to your pocketbook
I remember watching episodes of the Being Bobby Brown realty show, and every episode, they showed a lot of Whitney laying around the house smoking cigarettes. Only a few episodes showed her working and being “ Whitney Houston” . In some episodes they would take family trips and it would be more of the same, Whitney laying around smoking and Bobby looking for some alcohol. I remember saying to my wife “ here is one of the biggest stars in the whole world letting the that whole world be allowed to see her like this, and all that smoking cannot be good for her voice”. I was right, her voice was never ever the same.
the doctor that performed her autopsy said that her vocal cords were not damaged and that her lungs were in bad shape. She lacked the lung power to sing and hit those notes. She smoked cigarettes every day.
Janice Singleton
That's so sad to hear. 😰😰💯💯
I 'humbly' PRAY that Ms. Whitney Houston, and her daughter, Ms. Bobbi Kristina are RESTING in PEACE now, with our 'Heavenly' Father God, and His Son: Lord, Jesus Christ.
AMEN. 🌹🌹⛪⛪
Don't Forget the DRUGS.
@Rod H In my opinion I thought it was the cigarettes that did more damage
She was a chain smoker - newports ! Over time yes - emphysema.
Whitney's age didn't create vocal issues. There are many singers who could perform their hits passed 40, 50 and 60. The issue is lifestyle choices e.g. drugs, alcohol etc.
InterestingName Rachelle Ferrell!
Patti LaBelle is still the same even at their 70's!
Yes, that's true. Alcohol, smoking, drugs, allergies, hormonal changes in women, even eating the wrong foods such as dairy or spicy can cause vocal fold/ cord issues. Singers are vocal athletes and It's extremely important for us to drink lots of water daily, have a competent vocal coach and/or exercises, warm ups to keep the voice healthy and flexible, and get plenty of sleep and rest. Therefore, your lifestyle habits and choices are vital to your overall vocal health and longevity.
Charles Dotson Barbara Streisand
Not age so much as some of the things that come with age. As a singer who doesn’t use drugs and hasn’t smoked for 30 years or so, I can attest from experience that post nasal drip, acid reflux and all kinds of things will change your voice. My beautiful first soprano that could clearly hit a high C, now at 59 is an alto and unless I constantly practice, sounds good some days and others, just won’t cut it.
Such a fascinating man, and I have been enjoying his book! We are blessed to have the music of Aretha, Whitney, Janis and other music icons, though they are no longer living🎶🎶🎶🕊
He killed Phyliss Hyman and likely Whitney too and lord knows who else once they become worth more to him dead than alive.
During the filming of the movie 'Sparkle' on location in Detroit, she was staying at the hotel I worked at. I was fortunate to have direct contact with her, daughter (Bobbi Kristina), brother, sister-in-law and even Nick was around. I can attest that she smoked incessantly! Her ashtrays were filled to capacity with cigarette butts. Her vices were beer and cigarettes!!
That is very interesting to hear. Can you please tell us more about your experience with Whitney?
Just watched the film yesterday and was balling up big time in the end, but they kept it very clean and harmless (well at least not very graphic). What I was so shocked and sad about was the fact that Whitney not only lost her solid thrust in the upper register of her voice through smoking, but I guess her habits also damaged her dental health in the long run. She has had complicated dentures and dental procedures done and yet still she had some sort of speech impairment that was apparent. She often sounded like stumbling over certain consonants (especially the 'S' ) as if she got her tongue wrapped around a tooth or something. It was so sad to observe this as she was so highly articulate and had perfect diction as well as pronunciation as a young woman in her prime. My message to young artists out there:. Say NO to drugs and hone your craft, respect your talent and body and STAY healthy because your body IS your instrument!!
I agree 100%
Why was she doing drugs ?????
That’s the question to ask BUT people aren’t ready to hear the answer
Well spoken.
@@tracytrunn5625 well....for once she must have known deep inside that she wasn't a 'normal straight girl' from New Jersey tk begin with. Growing up with 2 older brothers, a very busy and strict mother along with an even more distant and career thirsty father...... plus her older brothers introduced her to drugs.
I wonder how many record executives had their way w her ?
Fame comes at a price
I used to sing but there's notes I couldn't reach now cos of smoking ,it's a fact
As a former smoker, I mentioned in a comment on a Whitney Houston video where she sang horribly that cigarettes caused her voice to go south, and someone called me stupid.
+tallladyjay Absolutely. It's common sense what cigarettes can do to your voice. Another great example is the lead singer of the English band 'The Psychedelic Furs'. Watch and compare their 1982 video and their live 2014 video of the song 'Love My Way'. He has very little voice and no range on hitting notes. Glad you are doing well. Take care.
+Charles Rinehart Certainly was part of it.
any type of smoke, from drugs, cigarettes, hookahs, 2nd hand smoke, electronic cigarettes...it's all the same to your lungs...TOXIC some are less harmful than others but you do it pass moderation and your body will have some type of reaction.
I agree, but drugs and alcohol also played their part in not only the destruction of her voice but her health as well. I am so sorry that she needed these crutches to escape what was obviously a tortured mind.
Keith Richards said it was easier to quit heroin than quitting cigarettes. Former Texas governor Ann Richards said that since the day she decided to quit drinking, she never had the temptation to drink again. But after she quit smoking, she still wanted a cigarette every single day.
It's a tragedy that when one is gifted with an incredible voice it is doomed by smoking. Somehow it never sinks in until it is too late.
I Am Convinced That When You Have The Gifts That Whitney Was Given, You Are Gonna Have These “Extremes”.
TRUE
It’s the drugs his just saying smoking it’s the drugs that ruin her voice
From reading all the comments here, I feel that instead of blaming other people for our own mistake .. we need to evaluate ourselves. Whitney did make her own mistake in her life. Nobody was twisting her arm and forced her to do drugs and smoking. She went down hill after just a decade success. She had a great voice prior to drugs. Too bad she chose her life that way. I wouldn't blame Clive .. He's the one who discovered Whitney. Yes, he's a control freak in terms of professionalism .. other than that you're on your own. Your life is in your own hand .. Nobody would ever control you unless you let it happened !!
Finally; A comment that is right on the mark.
Linda, GREAT GREAT post. You nailed it. Only Whitney could kill Whitney and only she could save herself.
Research who owns ALL Intertainment.
Exactly......You are Right......She Did it to Herself.....SAD!!!
@Beautifully Mastered by omission or commission it is the same. Just like Colonel Parker and Elvis. Kept the cash cow going. What about the _ews turning Christ over to Pontius Pilate. Someone who has an addictive personality can not be given substances. He gave her Dom Perignon as reward according to bio.
Clive Davis has done a tremendous service to the music industry. Intelligent , talented music producer who guided so many artists carriers. One of a kind.
Except for, ya know, the times he’s had certain artists BUMPED OFF when they become worth more to him dead than alive BUT OKAY 🙃
@@Kryssi13that’s show Biz you have to keep your voice protected as that is what Making the huge money Clive looking for the money only not the person
@@jaajaarogers9101 you’re very naive
@@Kryssi13 you referring to your self !
He knows damn well he didn't disclose the reason(S) for her vocal problems in it's entirety, but then why would he need to? Everybody knew what was going on: Drugs, liquor, cigaretts, lack of rest, not following what I'm sure were dozens of doctors orders. She has admitted she herself was her own worst emeny & I believe her.
Davis and the family and close friends TRIED to turn Whitney around but sadly she just couldn't do it. It is a very sad sad story.
Tbh I think Whitney died from a broken heart….Whitney knew she had the greatest voice this world ever heard….but when she realized the lifestyle that she chose FINALLY did a number on her voice where it wasn’t there no more….it broke her…I believe.
I will never understand why singers smoke. I find that very sad.
+Catg1222 right, just wasting their talent pretty much.
not everyone has your life they may be going through stress
+upoutmyfaceb0y
don't judge
singers are just like everyone else they should be able to give free like everyone else just because I can I sing I can't smoke cigarettes
555jalene I don't live a stress free life. It's just a shame that they can't beat that addiction and end up hurting their voices.
then they can masterbate to relieve stress lol
She didn’t protect her gift. Period. Drugs, cigarettes & not saying no to Clive & other destroyed her gift.
Success brought her many great things but it also isolated her. She was surrounded by people looking to make a quick buck. She must have been a very lonely person. I can understand how she might have turned more and more to drugs and smoking as a form of comfort.
Fantastic interview!!! Clive is soooo sharp my goodness!!
I Look To You remains my favorite album of hers & was so rooting for her. It should have gotten grammy nods! That tour had some good moments but sadly more not so good ones & she wasn't consistent. She is still much missed! I wish she would have quit those damn cigs earlier etc. God has her now.
And the DRUGS!!!!! WHICH IS A LOT WORSE.
SAME
One of world's legendary voices but struggling with drugs, RIP Whitney Houston
I see a lot of people saying “I don’t trust Clive” or seeing him in a bad light. I’ll say this, HE IS A RECORD EXECUTIVE PRODUCER! Meaning it his sole job to protect the integrity of the music therefore it is not his primary job to take care of all his artist including Whitney. May she RIP but please don’t blame this man for some of her poor decisions
Clive Davis is evil. He didn’t care about Whitney or any other artists he’s signed. He’s all about making money off of them.
@@elijah1797 yes she was no longer making him money so time to get rid of her and on to the next wicked
So true!
@@elijah1797 that was his job!
@@RA82828Unfortunately people are okay with sacrificing their humanity in the name of business. Sigh..
I don't understand why singers smoke cigarettes. I Look To You is such a good song! By then, Whitney's voice has noticeably changed.
You don't understand because you are stuck in your own thinking, smoking back in the day was almost rite of passage, a culture, and accepted in society. Once the brain gets hooked then your a slave to it.
Aretha
Alot of singers smoke. Edit: Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston smoked.
Often this begins with "being cool," a playground experiment and evolves into addiction. The person begins to miss the nicotine as if it needed to be an extension of the hand itself.
And you making her perform non stop even when you know she shouldn’t have
It's easy to blame everyone, but the person, whom doing the harm to themselves, is broken in so many ways!! The truth...
Thanks Clive because cigarettes will strain your vocal cords as your voice become rasphordy such ad Whitney. Some singers don't believe this could happen. I'm glad to hear the truth for others to come and to learn
Clive Davis always did give me the creeps around ANY artist. This man made more mega bucks off Whitney...SMDH!
She made plenty too.
If he didn't, someone else would have. It's the way the industry works.
I ran an entertainment trucking company that toured with Whitney in the early 90's. Every time Bobby Brown visited the tour with his entourage, cocaine was flowing like a blizzard. After Bobby visited, she would lose her voice and cancel shows. It was so predictable that the driver in charge would call and advise me when Bobby visited so we could be prepared to adjust the truck's schedule. Clive is remembering the person he cared about's memory but I spent 23 years doing "A"Market concert touring and don't trust what anybody says about doing drugs, or not. I accept that cigarettes may have kept her from recovering her voice, but the damage was already in full swing in the early 90's. On the Motley Crue Dr Feelgood tour, the band was drug testing themselves every week because of Nikki's pre-tour overdose.
Best & most truthful comment yet!
it's always a man that destroys a perfect woman!
Whitney did excellent. I believe what some of her mentors and other legends say who also struggled with drugs and cigs that Whitney did not want to have surgery and all that on her throat to speed up her voice recovery. Nevertheless she will always be THE VOICE!!! RIP WHITNEY!!!!!
Hogwash, drugs especially in general thwarts and mess with ones over all health. The human body isn't designed for substance abuse. Whitney Houston possessed was God-given. Saddened by her addiction & death 🙏😞
Very typical negative occrance among musical celebrities.
Prince’s Sister Said That He Saod To Her, “I Think I Have Done All I Was Sent Here To Do”. I baring Him Up Cause Maybe Whitney Did Everything She Was To In Her 48 Years.
REST PEACE WHITNEY HOUSTON
"There was no record she (Whitney Houston) did not break" - Clive Davis
This man is a business man. Period
He is also a monster, period!!
Lee Hawkins, thank you for the well balanced interview. You did an outstanding job!
I feel like this guy asked the same question 3 times in a row
What an impressive interviewer and journalist. Excellent interview and sign him up for CNN
Stop hating. Sinatra was not mediocre he was amazing vocalist perhaps the best in his game. But vocal chords of female gender are much more sensitive than male. Thats a fact, its very easy to hear when woman is a smoker for a certain period of time, every woman that I know who smokes have distinctive voice, if she smoke more than a decade its even easier. We male its a different story..plus vocal nodules are much more common at females than us males. Whitney is The Voice and again that a fact.
It's also that Sinatra didn't have to belt like Whitney did.
Al'ykc Pryor Frank was dull! I Rather hear Nat King Cole
Sinatra is overrated as a vocalist, hate or not. Whitney Houston was one of the greatest voices for sure, and was nicknamed "the voice", those are the facts.
Archiduc De Belgrade , Honest my friend Sinatra sounded like he was talking.
Whitney Houston made Clive Davis rich and the man had no problem continuing his pre-Grammy party while her body was still in that same hotel. Would be an interesting scene for her biopic. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that something does not add up with this man.
PREACH!!!
👍🏻👍🏻💯👍🏻👍🏻
CIGARRETTES AND SMOKING PERIOD IS NO GOOD ON THE VOCAL CHORDS...THE LUNGS...RESPIRATORY SYSTEM...WHITNEY CONSTANTLY HAD COUGHS AND COLDS ADDING DRUGS TO THE EQUATION ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE...
It happened to my mom. She is still a great gospel singer but alcohol and smoking damaged her vocal cords.
It’s Worse For A Person From The Church.
😂 amazing how many people singing gospel are drinking, smoking and even doing drugs. So much for the power of the gospel
@@80steen44 🤣🤣🤣
@@Dr.Judy.N.Lubega Yeah I wasn't trying to be cynical really, as a huge Elvis fan he did the same unfortunately. It's just that comment struck me as funny the way it was worded 😂
I NEVER HEARD THAT
Smoking CAN damage you vocal chords, but so can heavy drinking and drugs. But from what I can see, it depends on:
1) How long 2) How often the artist performed.
If you will notice, singers who have a short or moderately short career.....are out of the game for 10 - 20 years....if they resurface or make a comeback, they still have their voices. Also, Whitney sung HARD....STRONG !!!. We loved her strong vocals but singing THAT Hard and for so long and for so often, that could have damaged her vocal chords too.
Vocal CORDS.
Chords are played on instruments.
I don't trust Clive Davis. Not at all.
He loved the money Whitney made for him, and I'm certain it was a huge amount.
+BirdsnBlooms1 True but he made her - as well. He poured huge money into her and expected and got a huge return. He negotiated her big contract before he left Arista too. She was the one that made a mess of her self.
BirdsnBlooms1 Yeah... Clive REALLY forced Whitney to ruin her voice with smoking cigarettes, marijuana, crack, and alcohol. He really wanted his $bankable$ star to be unsuccessful & fail. 😏
Marie Antoinette's Cake why would he do that?? He wouldn’t want her to fail. He has money at stake too.
Major cartel,conglomerate. They always portray the gods of creation.
I must say that I don't think he was the main responsible. It was her familiy. They were the worse, from her father to her brothers and their wifes. She was in a toxic industry and with a very bad family who tool advantage of her and didn't respect her.
You can tell he genuinely cared for Whitney as he was very protective with some of his answers about her. He probably did have a soft spot for her compared to other artists he signed or worked with as he saw her grow into the superstar that she became and later seen her struggles.. He was also a great business man and had many other ventures other than Whitney. So many other big names he worked with, I respect he never hired "yes" people. That is probably why everything he touched turned gold because he wasn't afraid to hire creative people who had better ideas than him..
No he didn’t .
This is the realist and most honest actual news I have heard, this makes MORE SENSE than what the media was always portraying, so she did cut drugs, and she was working on cutting cigarettes, Whitney Houston was really coming back out with hits.
He is and always has been a business man in the music industry before and after Whitney. He earns his living by producing talented people. It is what it is.
He HELPED make Whitney the biggest star. She didn't hate him.
He is spineless and doesn’t care those in the industry know him as mr control.. if it’s not his way it’s the highway. Funny he isn’t producing talent now. Cause new talents know better
Exactly........Whitney Did it to Herself.
He is a Business Man. She Made Millions and So Did She. That's the Facts.
@@shigsho Exactly.
He did not want her to tour because he knew it would be too much. It takes health, stamina and focus for top artists in the best of condition. The voice is an instrument you will take care of or it goes…
Yes, I agree if Whitney gave up smoking oh Chile that voice would be so so strong. She knew every vocal trick, excercise, and really how to care for the VOICE. It was the smoking and I think she did because has an addictive nature.
I don't know why people think he's lying. We saw her chain smoking for years on Bobby Brown's reality show. And she's been spotted a million times in public smoking. It was clear that ruined her voice. In the end, she fell victim to drug addiction and clearly there was a lack of support and solid foundation around her to keep her away from trouble.
No she fell victim to the industry and Clive Davis' svengali ways
This evil person the only conversation he had with Whitney was about smoking. He didn't care that she was using drugs. All he cared about was money.
I have used and quit most - smoking is probably the hardest
She was a human with issues. She was an instrument that God used. She left behind great music. I wished that she made her own biopic. Everyone used her and still does. I wondered how she felt. I hate that her legacy is her personal life
Stanley Tucci Did a really good job portraying him
Aretha gave up cigarettes but I don't think she regained her original voice back and I don't think Whitney could have either. Whitney tour wasn't half bad. Watch Morrocco , Moscow, Manchester, Korea, and few others that were actually really good.
litalover19
AMEN!! ❤❤👏👏
Whitney Haters need to stop commenting
Free Speech.....
rip whitney, may the strength of God be with you. nobody no human being can hurt you anymore. RIP Angel
Bad Good
AMEN. ❤❤👏👏
He's always in a great mood. That is sooo sinister to me that his tone never faints. He has the look of IDGAF
As an employer you can demand that they don't do drugs or smoke. It can be a clause in their contract. Makes sense if want to keep your top performer in tact. Everyday working people can't get jobs if they are on drugs!!! Why are entertainers exempt?
This Lee Hawkins does a great interview.
The moral of Whitney Houston’s life was: stay the heck out of abusive relationships, and if you find yourself in one, for goodness sake find it in yourself to get out. If you can’t find that self-respect somewhere deep down, you gonna wind up with what you deserve.
Well-spoken.
In the bio pic, Clive Davis seems to be a very caring person. I don’t know how he is in reality, but he seems very genuine in this interview.
Yes, but its interesting to notice here where his interest in the person as a whole ends. He's only interested in their professional life and appears to ignore the rest
Nah, he did not care at all. Her body was still in the hotel when he decided to have the pre- Grammy party regardless of the death of someone that made him tons of money and was a 'friend'. I think he hated the fact that in early 00' she signed a 100 milion dollar contract to release many albums. We all know what happened that decade. She was not ready for her comeback in 09 (great album nonetheless) and when an artist dies they suddenly make much more money than alive. It makes you think. The industry has the same 'problem' with Britney these days. She must watch her back for sure.
Whitney’s voice at her worst was about 20 times BETTER than most people’s at their best
Aaaw shucks !
This man is legend.
And he makes them too!
Some very good questions here. Thank you!
"The power of drugs is lethal" - Clive Davis, on signing people if he knows they on drugs, "I would not sign them"
According to latest film he,said he didn't get involved in his,artists' personal lives. Wink wink. Being bi, doing drugs...that would affect 'the brand'. SHE' S upstairs dead and he is line the show must go on?
Whitney was a Cash Cow to him and nothing more.......I have lost all respect for the man for promoting Jennifer Hudson on CNN during the week of Whitney's death and also for having a Grammy Party while Whitney's body lay cold upstairs. SHAMEFUL!!
Exactly! He is a DEVIL
Her body wouldn’t have been able to have been touched after she died until they’d had some investigating done. Crime scene analysts don’t move it right away as to get the scene in its freshest state to figure out what happened. He couldn’t have moved her body with drawing suspicion of murder onto himself. Also the world didn’t stop spinning because she died. Everyone still had to work, including him
Oh my goodness!
They picked the perfect guy to play him in the Whitney Houston movie!
Stanley Tucci.
Great interview. Hat off to Lee Hawkins.
Addictions are real, and not as easily conquered as people would have you believe. When life gets tough, people often turn to fantasy.
Y’all need to stop judging Clive like this he loved Whitney very much if he didn’t care for Whitney her height of fame would not exist if he didn’t care her music would not be out selling like it was 20 something years ago if he didn’t care we would not known her that well like we all do she would had been a local singer y’all really need to stop pointing at others and point at and judge at yourselves
Lynlyn Productions. Please record companies were competing among each other to get Whitney. She was getting record deal offers ever since she was young. The only reason she decided to go with Clive was because her cousin and Aretha were in that label and she wanted to be with them. Clive should thank her for making him money. Whitney would have been successful with Clive or not. He was lucky to have her. It was her talent that took her to stardom.
Clive is as sweet as can be ❤
Whether she was smoking or not her voice wasn't gonna stay rich and velvety forever. Many singers who weren't smokers experience setbacks in their voices too. Steve Perry, Teena Marie, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Lisa Stansfield, etc
Well she was a smoker, and a coc head who blew a hole through her the septum of her nose. She was a totally mess for the last 15 years of her life. But her voice was gone before that.
Please she was to young to loose her voice. Aretha, Patti, Stephanie Mills are just a few who at the age of Whitney still had rich sounds. You do not know what you are talking about.
Stevie wonder would like to have a word
Ones career lies with the Individual and as such one must take responsibility for the path they chose in life... Mentors are there to help and assist but only YOU the person must have the strength of will to take ownership of oneself and ultimate career ...
Whitney was a unique talent with an incredible voice, a one off, the likes of her will never be around again , class act , what a tragic end t0 an amazing voice, sleep well xx
Let's not forget that Whitney was a model before Clive Davis came into her life.........
Aretha even dealt with this issue. There was a time where her voice wasn't as powerful as it initially was in the 60's and 70s. Then when she finally stopped, she mostly regained it. Same thing with Eddie Kendricks. He lost his falsetto by the 80's due to over smoking.
The stuff about her smoking (weed) may well be true. Aretha and Dionne both tarnished their voices the same way but that comment about not wanting her to tour is bullshit.
She was FORCED to tour because she owed Clive money. Her health was very poor at the time, we could all see she was not well and were worried about her....I can't imagine she would have nearly killed herself with a world tour at that time if she hadn't been forced into it. Clive is so fake. He likes to pretend he cared about her, well he cared about her as a money making machine but not as a human being.
Thus says the Judge of the Universe, who never knew Clive OR Whitney Houston. Yes, the music industry is a BUSINESS, and people can choose whether to be part of it or not, or whether they want to pursue superstardom (and lots of money), or not. She had choices also, the victimhood shit gets old after a while. When you sign a contract, it's your responsibility to honor it, but if she didn't want to tour for whatever reason, no one could FORCE her to. All she had to do was say NO, and then deal with it in court if necessary. Fame and wealthy have a price. Maybe the businessman in him wanted her to tour, but on the personal side he didn't, isn't that possible? If you were in his position, YOU would have mixed feelings about it also, it's easy to judge a situation when you're not in it. ALSO, nobody had a crystal ball or knew it would lead to her death, and if they had, they would have made other choices. She was doing well and making positive strides in her health according to Dionne Warwick (who knew her a hell of a lot bettr than YOU), so how the hell could anyone know she would end up dead?? Except YOU of course, YOU would have known, and if YOU had been there, it never would have happened, right?? SMH.
LOL What on earth are you on!? "Judge of the universe...WTF?
Firstly, did I at any point say that Whitney wasn't to blame for the deterioration in her own health? Nope.
Did I at any point say she had no choice about making a comeback and recording another album (a tour to promote it is pretty much standard procedure)...? Nope. What I said is that she was under financial and probably legal obligation to do the touring and promotion....so she did it, even though physically she was not fit to. Everyone could see that, not just me. In fact there are even quotes from musical journalists who attended saying Whitney looked and sounded like a woman with not long left to live... She even contracted bronchitis during that period and was put on steroids. I was actually half expecting to hear the sad news back then, as were a lot of people. Not 2 years later, when she seemed to be on the mend.
And yes, Whitney WAS to blame for her death...she was still using drugs and smoking at the time. BUT, I stand by what I say about Clive and those other Music moguls like Simon Cowell for instance, who claim to care for their acts as people....well they don't. They are merely employees in the corporation and the minute they stop bringing in cash they get the boot. Yes the music industry is cold and cutthroat and you have to be hard nosed and heartless to run a successful record label. It is what it is. I just don't like it when cold-blooded people pretend they have feelings for their employees, it's insincere. If you don't agree then thats fine by me but I have just as much right to an opinion as you do so you can come down off your moral soap box now. Thank you.
soundseeker63 I agree with all you said
ur wrong
yep
Ppl need to stop blaming Clive for Whitney's choices. She loved him. That's good enough for me.
Nicotine is more addictive than cocaine. Whitney found it difficult to stop smoking cigarettes.
its really hard
Cigarettes, the worst legal drug. Not surprised that did it to her voice. Too many people in denial about cigarettes.
It's so disheartening to hear Clive Davis blame Whitney's failed voice to cigarettes.
I truly wonder if he ever came to terms with her drug use.
Always missing you, Whitney ❤
He did not take her to stardom. He saw a star and turn the lights on.
I love how you said that!
Love Clive!
That is true it's said EDDIE KENDRICK , lost his voice because he too smoke and it had damage his throat , his group members ( Temptations ) said they never knew he smoke he thin his lining and couldn't hit his high notes any longer and he died of throat cancer . He was a natural fasittol
In the 70s there rumors going around that he had throat cancer by the 80s got here his voice was for the most part of it gone it eventually developed into lung cancer and 91 he surgery to remove one of his lungs and he didn't last he died the next year a great loss to the music world
Well chosen questions and interview by Lee Hawkins.
Yes, he did a excellent job
Whitney Houston is a power house her voice reached volumes no one could ever do. She has left a true legacy after her passing. Just know me being her no. # 1 fan. There will never be another artist that will touch me as much as Whitney has.
As a big Whitney fan myself, prime Streisand is the only other one. Look up her 1977 live version of My Man as an example
Cigarettes definitely seemed to be her worst vice as it pertains to her voice. It's well documented she's smoked since her teens. Although the drugs didn't help, cigarettes are a singers worst enemy.
Totally agree with you Brandon White
Cigarettes killed many artists over time. Jerry Garcia was one.
@@777jones Facts
Fascinating man, and a great interview.
Clive Davis is the man👍👍👍
These questions are 🔥
I think all he wanted from Whitney was money , he didn't care about her and she loved him dearly , so so sad , he is a disgusting man.
Scott D you are so right this man is a wicked
Clover Ricketts so Whitney was an idiot without an agency of her own?
Clover Ricketts she was not an idiot period. SMH. you're a moron for saying she was an idiot
I agree
He's a business man. Of course money mattered first dummies!