By Piya Sinha-Roy
LOS ANGELES, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Music producer Clive
Davis's pre-Grammy party is typically one of the most fun-filled
highlights of the week leading to the music industry's top
awards, but this year's event quickly turned into a tribute for
Whitney Houston, who died earlier in the day.

On the red carpet outside Saturday night's event, the
recording industry's biggest stars were stunned by news that
Houston, among the biggest female recording stars of all time,
died that afternoon in the same hotel, the Beverly Hilton.

Inside the gala dinner, the mood among stars ranging from
Sean Combs to Tony Bennett was initially somber, but in opening
remarks Davis, who had first discovered Houston and became a
mentor to the singer, said it was time to celebrate her life.