Gerry Griffith, the Arista Records A&R executive who helped bring Whitney Houston to the label, has died at 87. Griffith died Nov. 5 in Brooklyn, New York, according to reports by Billboard and Hits Daily Double; his family said he had lived with dementia for five years.

How Griffith helped bring Houston to Arista

Griffith was Arista’s vice president of artist and repertoire, the part of a record label that finds performers and helps develop their careers. He first heard Houston singing with her mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, in 1979. After seeing her perform again in 1983, Griffith urged Arista chairman Clive Davis to attend a showcase. Houston signed with the label that year.

The distinction matters: Griffith recognized Houston’s potential and brought her to Davis, while the label’s signing and subsequent development involved a wider team. Houston’s self-titled 1985 debut established her as a major recording artist, and her career later extended across pop, R&B and film soundtracks.

A career beyond one discovery

Griffith also worked with artists including Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick and Carlos Santana. His later work included a senior A&R role at Manhattan Records, part of EMI. Billboard and Hits Daily Double also reported colleagues’ tributes, including the view that Griffith deserved broader recognition for his role in Houston’s early career.

His story highlights the often less visible role of A&R executives: they listen for potential, advocate for artists inside a label and help connect performers with the people and resources needed to record and reach an audience. Read more of The Globuzz’s Music coverage.

Sources

Billboard, “Gerry Griffith, Whitney Houston Discoverer, Dead at 87”; Hits Daily Double, “Gerry Griffith, Arista A&R Exec Who Discovered Whitney Houston, Dies at 87.”