Music legends gathered Monday to remember Clive Davis, the revered industry mogul, with Alicia Keys delivering one of the service’s most emotional tributes at an Upper East Side synagogue.
Keys, whose rise to superstardom was helped by Davis, broke down in tears as she made her way to the podium at Central Synagogue, at one point borrowing a handkerchief from someone nearby.
“I’m actually not a crier. I’m in a strange place,” the “Empire State of Mind” singer told mourners, before recalling that she first met Davis when she was just 15 years old.
“You saw something in me that I was just beginning to see in myself,” Keys said, reading from an emotional letter addressed to him.
Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, Ja Rule and Stevie Wonder were among the high-profile musicians who attended the private memorial. Kenny G performed a solemn saxophone solo, Jennifer Hudson delivered a commanding musical tribute, and Bruce Springsteen spoke about Davis’ influence as a powerful tastemaker who helped shape his early career.
Davis, the legendary music executive credited with helping build the careers of Whitney Houston, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kelly Clarkson and many others, died peacefully last Monday at his Manhattan home following an age-related illness, his family told Page Six.
He was 94.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Adrien Brody, Hoda Kotb and Gayle King were also among the prominent figures who attended the service to pay their respects.
Davis – a record company lawyer who rose to become one of the most influential figures in modern music history – would have been thrilled by the star-studded farewell, Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl told mourners.
“Clive would have loved this,” she said.
Springsteen called Davis “big, bombastic and brave” during an emotional tribute.
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“He was born to run everything,” quipped The Boss, who recalled his first meeting with Davis during an audition in 1979, when he was just 22.
“I can’t wait to hear you,” Davis said at the start of the meeting, Springsteen recalled.
After the audition, the executive simply said: “Welcome to Columbia Records.”
“In those few words, he changed my life forever,” Springsteen said.
Other music legends shared similar stories of Davis’ uncanny ability to spot talent.
Warwick recalled initially resisting Davis’ suggestion that she work with Manilow in the 1970s – a partnership that ultimately led to the iconic album “Dionne,” which went platinum and earned two Grammy Awards.
Manilow, meanwhile, recounted how Davis urged him to record the Scott English and Richard Kerr rock track “Brandy” – and then helped transform it into the smash hit “Mandy.”
“He believed in me from the very beginning,” the legend said of Davis.
Davis was also responsible for breathing new life into the careers of established artists including Aretha Franklin and Santana.
Hudson sang Leonard Cohen’s hit song, “Hallelujah,” and then grew teary-eyed as she transitioned to Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
“We love you, Clive” she said, as the crowd jumped to their feet for a standing ovation.
Davis is survived by his four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
With Post Wires
