The Untold Story of The Greatest Love of All Recording

Before Whitney: The Untold Story of Billy Davis Jr., Soul Television, and “The Greatest Love of All”

When the phrase “The Greatest Love of All” is mentioned, the mind instantly races to Whitney Houston’s monumental, chart-topping 1986 rendition. Her soaring vocal acrobatics turned Michael Masser and Linda Creed’s anthem of self-worth into an everlasting pop-gospel monument.

Yet, long before Houston immortalized the track, the song’s journey through the late 1970s television and soul circuits involved a rich tapestry of legendary voices. Among the most revered—yet historically fascinating—figures tied to the song’s performance lineage is Billy Davis Jr.

The Anatomy of a Masterpiece

Written by composer Michael Masser and lyricist Linda Creed for the 1977 biographical film The Greatest (based on the life of Muhammad Ali), “The Greatest Love of All” was structurally built to test the limits of human emotion. Creed penned the lyrics while quietly battling breast cancer, wrapping lines like “learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all” in raw, lived-in vulnerability.

While George Benson famously provided the first commercial recording for the movie’s soundtrack, the song’s profound spiritual resonance made it an immediate favorite for elite vocalists of the era.

Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo: Bringing Soul to the Small Screen

As former pillars of the groundbreaking pop-soul group The 5 Dimension—known for revolutionary hits like “Up, Up and Away” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In”—Billy Davis Jr. and his wife, Marilyn McCoo, carved out a brilliant path as a powerhouse R&B duo in the mid-to-late 1970s. Scoring their own massive chart success with “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)”, the duo became staples of prime-time television variety shows.

During this golden era of televised soul, Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo frequently integrated “The Greatest Love of All” into their live repertoire and television appearances.

• The Vocal Chemistry: While studio versions of the era belonged to Benson, Davis brought a distinct, gospel-steeped weight to the song live. Known for a rich, gritty baritone that could pivot effortlessly into soaring emotional heights, Davis injected a poignant, lived-in gravity into the lyrics.
• Bridging the Gap: Performance clips of Davis and McCoo interpreting the ballad captured a vital transition phase for 1970s soul. They stripped away the cinematic gloss, transforming the song into an intimate, shared conversation about resilience, dignity, and self-preservation.

The Evolution of an Anthem

The trajectory of “The Greatest Love of All” is a masterclass in how a great composition evolves:

1. The Cinematic Birth (1977): George Benson introduces the song to the world for the Muhammad Ali film.
2. The Soul Circuit & TV Standardization (Late 1970s): Soul royalty like Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo champion the song on television and concert stages, cementing its emotional core for live audiences.
3. The Global Phenomenon (1985–1986): Whitney Houston, discovered and mentored within a musical ecosystem that deeply valued these classic vocal traditions, records her career-defining masterpiece.

A Legacy Carved in Velvet

While history books often leap straight from George Benson to Whitney Houston, the connective tissue of the song belongs to the vocal heavyweights of the late 1970s who kept its heart beating on live stages.