Although Clive did not discover Usher, he was a big influence on his career and his life. Usher said he wanted to follow in Clive’s footsteps. He wanted to develop his ear for music and for new talent. He wanted to match producers and singers who could work well together. He wants to be the next Clive Davis.
Usher said he has been working his way up the executive ladder in the music business. He would sit in Clive’s office for hours watching him do business, learning the ins and outs of the music business and trying to understand how the music business is run on the other side of the curtain, behind all the music. Although Clive has three and four hour meetings all the time, Usher said he was able to learn a lot when he could last through the whole meeting.
“You learn a lot and you get to see the magic being created,” said Usher. “Being able to see behind the scenes fueled my ambition to be an executive.”
Clive Davis told Katie Couric it was been a joy for him to watch Usher grow as an artist. He has this natural style with the way he dresses, dances and simply moves said Clive. He even told Usher he often uses his music videos to show other artists how to develop their own styles and their own moves. Clive even looked up to Usher for emulating Michael Jackson but making the moves his own.
But it was all Clive said Usher. He was the one who helped him grow and he continues to help. And I would say he is doing a pretty good job following in Clive’s footsteps after he signed Justin Bieber to his own label.
Usher revealed his original stage name was actually Cha Cha but he eventually changed it after he decided he needed something better to record under.
We can only wonder which music executive thought "Cha Cha" would be a good name for Usher...
It also looks like Clive Davis' PR is in full swing after Kelly Clarkson showed he's a bitter old man and a bully. The Publicist might even get a raise... or a music career.
