The life and influential career of record executive Clive Davis was honored at his funeral on Monday. Davis’ memorial service, which was closed to the public, was broadcast live by the synagogue.Davis launched the careers of numerous stars, including Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, and Kenny G, and influenced others such as Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead. Davis died on June 22 at the age of 94 in his Manhattan apartment, weeks after he was hospitalized for upper respiratory problems.
Stars attend Clive Davis’ funeral
Dionne Warwick, Kenny G and Gayle King were among the stars seen walking into the service on Monday morning. No details on who might speak or perform at the service have been released.
Stars pay tribute to Clive Davis
According to Variety, music legends Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and many other stars paid heartfelt tributes to the legendary record executive, celebrating his remarkable life and lasting impact on the music industry. The event featured several moving speeches by Springsteen, Keys, Barry Manilow, Dionne Warwick and Davis’ sons Fred and Doug.Jennifer Hudson delivered a powerful musical performance that served as one of the emotional highlights of the service.
WATCH: Jennifer Hudson Performs ‘Hallelujah’
Tribute to Alicia Keys
In his tribute, as reported by Varitey, Keys recalled his first audition for Davis and how he offered her endless support and friendship while working together. “You don’t just sign an artist. You get to know the soul,” Key said. “You see not just the music I’ve already made, but the music that’s still churning inside me, waiting to be called forward with wisdom and courage. You called it forward. You called me forward.”“I respect you, and I love you. I am who you believed I could be. Thank you for the encouragement for the music, for the perspective, for the friendship. Really every single time, every single time.”“Thank you for seeing me whole, from the very beginning, even before I saw myself whole. With all my heart, all my soul and every single note I ever played,” Alicia concluded.
Bruce Springsteen remembers Clive Davis
Bruce Springsteen took the stage saying, “Clive was big and bombastic and bold and full of ideas and just believed, believed, believed, believed,” he said. “He was dressed like a king and he was born to run – everything!”“I tentatively played my guitar. I think I played ‘Growing Up’ and ‘Up in the City’ on St. Songs that would eventually end up on my first album. And when I finished, Clive, laughing, said, ‘Welcome to Columbia Records.'”“And with those few words, he changed my life forever. Forever. Nothing has been the same since that day. That day Clive showed a 22-year-old the same warmth, the same kindness, the same respect that he would show me. After all my success for the next 50 years, nothing changed.”He concluded, “He led the listening public to such powerful and inspiring music. And he didn’t just love the music, Clive actually loved the people who made the music, no matter how much of a pain in the ass they were,” he laughed. “And he loved those people deeply and abidingly, with his loyalty, he told me he always felt that way about me. And I loved him back. I felt nothing but love from Clive.“
About Clive Davis
Davis launched the careers of numerous stars, including Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, and Kenny G, and influenced others such as Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead.He breathed new life into the careers of established artists like Aretha Franklin and Santana, and helped launch the careers of several early “American Idol” winners, including Kelly Clarkson.He is survived by his four children, sons Fred, Doug and Mitchell, daughter Lauren, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
