The life and influential career of record executive Clive Davis were honored at his funeral on Monday. Davis’ memorial service was closed to the public and was live-streamed 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 in his Manhattan apartment on June 22 at the age of 94, after being hospitalized for several weeks with an upper respiratory illness.
Stars attend Clive Davis’ funeral
The ceremony was attended by stars including Dionne Warwick, Kenny G and Gayle King on Monday morning. No details were revealed about who might speak or perform at the funeral.
Stars pay tribute to Clive Davis
Music legends Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and several other stars paid a heartfelt tribute to the legendary record executive, celebrating his extraordinary life and lasting impact on the music industry, Variety reports. Springsteen, Keys, Barry Manilow, Dionne Warwick and Davis’ sons Fred and Doug gave several touching speeches at the ceremony.Jennifer Hudson gave a powerful musical performance that was one of the emotional highlights of the ceremony.
Watch: Jennifer Hudson performs “Hallelujah”
Alicia Keys Tribute
In her tribute, Keys recalled her first audition for Davis and spoke of the endless support and friendship Davis gave her throughout the years they worked together, Varitey reported. “You don’t just sign an artist. You recognize the soul,” Case said. “Not only do you see the music I’ve made, but you see the music that is still stirring within me, waiting for someone with the wisdom and courage to call upon it. You call it forward. You told me to move forward. ““I respect you and I love you. I do it because you believed I could. Thank you for your music, your vision, and your encouragement of friendship. Literally every time, every time.”“Thank you for fully and completely seeing me from the beginning, even before I fully saw myself. With my whole heart, my soul, and every note I ever played,” Alicia concluded.
Bruce Springsteen remembers Clive Davis
Bruce Springsteen came on stage and said, “Clive was great, bombastic, brave, full of ideas, and believed, believed, believed, believed,” he said. “He dresses like a king, he’s born to run – everything!”“I played a little tentatively on the guitar. I think I played ‘Growing Up’ and ‘Saint in the City.’ Those songs ended up being mostly on my first album. When I finished, Clive smiled and said simply, ‘Welcome to Columbia Records.’ ““With those few words, he changed my life forever. Forever. From that day on, nothing was ever the same. That day, Clive showed a 22-year-old nobody the same warmth, the same kindness, the same respect that he showed me. And after the next 50 years of my success, nothing has changed.”He concluded: “He guided listeners to music that was so powerful and inspiring. Not only did he love the music, Clive actually loved the people who made it, no matter how miserable they were,” he said with a laugh. “He loved those people deeply and forever, and with his devotion, I knew that’s how he felt about me. I loved him too. 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 Keys and several early “American Idol” winners, including Kelly Clarkson.He is survived by four children, sons Fred, Doug and Mitchell, daughter Lauren, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
