Clive Davis, the legendary music executive and former president of Columbia Records, passed away on June 22 at the age of 94. In the weeks leading up to his death, Davis remained actively engaged in the music world, attending concerts and maintaining close relationships with artists he helped launch decades earlier.
Davis was en route to see a performance by Air Supply in New Jersey on May 29, an act he had signed in 1980 after being drawn to their hit song “Lost in Love.” The planned reunion, facilitated by theater columnist and radio host Michael Riedel, was to mark an emotional occasion as Air Supply had not seen Davis in roughly 30 years. However, on the way to the concert, Davis was taken to the hospital after his doctor advised urgent medical attention following the results of a test.
Riedel noted Davis’s excitement about the reunion with the band, describing it as a “really lovely reunion” that he had been eagerly anticipating. Though Davis missed this final planned event, he had recently attended Bruce Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour in Newark. Springsteen, whom Davis discovered when he was 22, recalled at the service that Davis stood through the three-hour show just months before his passing.
Numerous notable figures from the music and entertainment worlds gathered to honor Davis at a memorial service held at Manhattan’s Central Synagogue on Monday. Attendees included musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, Ja Rule, Jennifer Hudson, Mark Ronson, LL Cool J, Usher, and Kenny G, as well as public figures like Nancy Pelosi and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos.
Barry Manilow reflected on Davis’s enduring influence, recalling how Davis continued to shape his artistic projects up to the final weeks of his life. Manilow described receiving multiple calls from Davis over a period of three weeks regarding a concept for a new album, underscoring Davis’s relentless dedication to music.
Davis’s partner, Greg Schriefer, was with him during the final days, indicating the close bond they shared. Friends and colleagues remember Davis as a vibrant presence who maintained an active social life, reportedly going out nearly every night until his health declined.
Clive Davis’s career spanned decades, during which he played a pivotal role in launching and nurturing the careers of many iconic performers. His contribution to the music industry continues to be celebrated by those who knew him and by the artists whose lives he touched.