Alicia Keys, Clive Davis Remember Whitney Houston at Pre-Grammy Gala

Hours after Whitney Houston's death last night (Feb. 11) at the Beverly Hilton, an emotional Clive Davis -- the troubled singer's longtime mentor, producer and friend -- arrived at that very hotel to preside over his annual pre-Grammy Awards gala. After embracing Alicia Keys outside, the industry legend headed inside and offered a heartfelt tribute to the talent he helped nurture.

"I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me," Davis said, according to the AP. "She was full of life, looking forward for tonight. She loved music and she loved this night that celebrated music."

"Whitney was a beautiful person and she had a talent beyond compare," he added. "She graced this stage ... so many times. So simply put: Whitney would have wanted the music to go on."

Keys honored Houston by singing a line from her hit "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and thinking back on how she'd been inspired by the R&B diva.

"You think about how this person touched you," Keys said. "[Then] you form a friendship, a sisterhood, a bond. You see how incredible they really are ... She was a sister to me."

%VIRTUAL-MultiGallery-147130|145290|144210|140559|139797|137168|135758%

Watch Whitney Houston Perform 'Jesus Loves Me' With Kelly Price