FILE - Record mogul Clive Davis is pictured in his New York office, Sept. 10, 1980. (AP Photo/Marty Reichenthal, File)
FILE - Sony Music Entertainment's Chief Creative Officer and famous hitmaker Clive Davis posing for a portrait in his office in New York on Feb. 18, 2013. (Photo by Dan Hallman/Invision/AP, File)
Barry Manilow arrives at the funeral services for Clive Davis at Central Synagogue in New York, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Dionne Warwick arrives at the funeral services for Clive Davis at Central Synagogue in New York, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman arrive at the funeral services for Clive Davis at Central Synagogue in New York, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Stevie Wonder arrives at the funeral services for Clive Davis at Central Synagogue in New York, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Alicia Keys arrives at the funeral services for Clive Davis at Central Synagogue in New York, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Ja Rule arrives at the funeral services for Clive Davis at Central Synagogue in New York, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
NEW YORK (AP) — Kenny G played a mournful sax solo to kick off the funeral Monday for music legend Clive Davis, as pop royalty turned out to honor a man who championed so many of their careers.
Barry Manilow, , Alicia Keys, Ja Rule and Stevie Wonder were among of the other musical stars at the memorial service. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Adrien Brody, Hoda Kotb and Gayle King were among the other notables.
Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl said Davis would have been thrilled by the turnout. “Clive would have loved this,” she said.
The service was closed to the public but from Central Synagogue in Manhattan.
Davis, a record company lawyer who rose to become one of music’s most influential figures, , including Whitney Houston, Springsteen, Keys and Kenny G, and influenced others such as Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead.
He died June 22 in his Manhattan apartment at the age of 94, a few weeks after he was hospitalized for an upper respiratory issue.
Buchdahl asked what song Davis most admired that was not something he had a hand in and was told “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” written by composer Harold Arlen and lyricist E.Y. “Yip” Harburg in 1938 for the film “The Wizard of Oz.” Buchdahl then sang a soaring version. “You have a home at Sony Music Classics,” joked Rob Stringer, the CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.
Warwick told a story about how Davis urged her to work with Manilow in the late 1970s, which she initially resisted. But Davis’ suggestion was fruitful: Their partnership, the album “Dionne,” went platinum and earned two Grammy Awards.
Manilow recalled Davis urging him to record the rock song “Brandy,” written by Scott English and Richard Kerr. Manilow turned it into a love song and played it for Davis. “Just do that,” Davis told him. They renamed it “Mandy.” It went to No. 1. “He believed in me from the very beginning,” Manilow said.
For more than 50 years, Davis convened a gala attended by some of the biggest names in music the night before the Grammy Awards .
At this year's gala, former President Barack Obama praised Davis. While many record execs saw their influence wane as they grew older, Davis' seemed to grow. He breathed new life into the careers of established artists such as Aretha Franklin and Santana, and helped launch Keys and several early “American Idol” winners' careers, including Kelly Clarkson's.
He is survived by his four children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The Associated Press
For many Indigenous communities, access to financial services and economic opportu…
Trust in international money transfers has long been tied to physical places: a ba…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Tax: | |
| Today's total: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
