Farewell to the Last Music Mogul

Y ou don’t expect a lot of laughs at a funeral, but even before dozens of entertainment’s biggest names — musicians, business titans, executives, media personalities — filed into New York’s Central Synagogue on June 29 to say goodbye to Clive Davis , who died one week earlier at age 94, there were already jokes predicting the gathering’s run time.

“We know he didn’t plan it, because it would have been eight hours — and four would’ve been Clive talking,” Diane Warren recounts with her signature sass. “And I say that with love.” The award-winning songwriter, responsible for eternal hits like Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” and Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” was referencing Davis’ annual pre-Grammy gala, a star-studded Saturday-night soiree where music industry heavies, politicians, and other VIPs co-mingled for years as top talent took the stage to deliver unforgettable performances.

Between bows, Davis would shout-out luminaries in the ballroom, listing their accolades like he was reading a résumé aloud. The format was long — some might say tedious — and tightened ever so minimally as Davis aged. On Jan. 31 this year, with Davis seated for his hosting duties, Art Garfunkel took the Grammy party stage around 11 p.m., capping off a night that showcased of-the-moment stars like Olivia Dean and Sombr, regulars Jennifer Hudson and John Legend, hip-hop stars Clipse, and a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne featuring MGK and Jelly Roll.

At 90 minutes, Davis’ funeral stood in contrast to his famed parties, or even the A&R meetings he led, but the seating chart was no less challenging. Behind the immediate family — sons Fred, Doug, and Mitch, and daughter Lauren — were Bruce Springsteen , Barry Manilow, and Usher. Across the aisle sat Dionne Warwick, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Alicia Keys, Hudson, Mark Ronson, and Stevie Wonder.

Farther down the pews were top brass from WME and CAA, actor Adrien Brody, and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Gayle King cut her European vacation short to make it. Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer flew in from London. Performing that Monday morning were Kenny G, Hudson, and Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, who delivered a moving “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” (“You have a home at Sony Music Classics,” Stringer cracked.) Editor’s picks The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century

Given that Davis had for five decades served as host and emcee of a party that bore his name, there were certain expectations of this last curtain call — a celebration as much as a send-off, meticulously planned by the man himself, according to attendees.

“He was a household name,” says veteran label exec Barry Weiss, who worked with Davis while running Jive Records during its most profitable period, when Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Backstreet Boys were selling millions of albums. “It’s very rare that somebody goes beyond the scope of just the music industry in terms of recognition, and Clive did that.