Farewell to the Last Music Mogul
Clive Davis’s funeral at Central Synagogue in New York brought together leading figures from music, entertainment and politics to honour the veteran record executive, who died aged 94. The service reflected his unusual stature beyond the industry: mourners remembered both his talent-spotting influence and the lavish, celebrity-filled pre-Grammy events that made him a public face of the business.
The 90-minute ceremony on 29 June featured performances by Kenny G, Jennifer Hudson and Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, while guests included Bruce Springsteen, Usher, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow and Nancy Pelosi. Davis’s family sat at the front, and industry leaders such as Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer travelled to attend; former colleagues described him as an exceptionally perceptive executive whose career spanned more than five decades.
- Music executive Clive Davis was honoured at a star-filled New York funeral.
- Mourners praised his influence and exceptional ability to recognise talent.
- The service contrasted with Davis’s famously lengthy pre-Grammy galas.
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Clive Davis was one of the most influential record executives in American popular music. Over a career lasting more than five decades, he led major labels including Columbia Records, Arista Records and J Records, helping to decide which artists were signed, promoted and released.
He was associated with the careers of performers including Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys and Barry Manilow. His annual pre-Grammy parties also became prominent gatherings for musicians, executives and other public figures.
Record executives such as Davis can shape the music industry by investing in new artists and influencing what reaches large audiences. His long career and high-profile connections made him an unusually recognisable figure in a business that usually operates behind the scenes.