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Tucci told us Davis was expecting Warwick at his annual Memorial Day celebration at his Pound Ridge estate, but he made an announcement that “she called and sent her regrets, but she won an award and had to fly to Germany as she was on tour there.”
Ironically, Warwick added in her statement, “He always wanted to know ‘where’s my Dionne.’ I referred to him as the brown shoe, white sock record executive. I can think of no other record man that seemed to have that magical ability to know a hit when he heard a song. The entire music industry I’m sure will mourn his passing. He was one of a kind.”
Davis was not only responsible for launching music stars. Republic Records co-founders Monte and Avery Lipman, the music industry brother duo behind stars like Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and Ariana Grande, owe their music industry takeover to Davis.
“Avery and I got our start in the music business working for Clive at Arista Records in the late 1980s. By virtue of being in his orbit, we had a front-row seat to his extraordinary success as he discovered and championed legendary artists who’ve gone on to make the world a better place,” Monte told us.
Avery’s first job was as Davis’ part-time secretary.
“On my very first day, I handed him a list of missed calls and mentioned that his son had called while he was in a meeting. Clive immediately told me, ‘If any of my children call, you need to grab me,’” he said.
“From that day forward, I interrupted meetings and calls whenever one of his children reached out and every single time, he stopped what he was doing and took the call… I’ll always remember the example he set as a parent, mentor and leader,” Avery said.
Davis honored the brothers at his last pre-Grammy bash in February. “To stand alongside him nearly after 40 years later was a deeply meaningful full moment that we will always cherish and hold dear in our hearts. We love you Clive,” Monte said.
Davis’ final run as a label was at J Records, the label he founded in 2000 after Arista. The world was introduced to “Songs in A Minor” singer Alicia Keys and “American Idol” winners, Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson.
Keys and Hudson posted tributes on Monday, with the latter explaining, “I needed a moment…This was a huge blow to wake up to. I know nobody lives forever, but Clive’s impact and legacy will always live on… We will always celebrate your life and legacy,” she wrote.
Keys shared collage art of her and Davis designed by her graphic artist. “To Clive Davis, the visionary who transformed dreams into reality,” it read.
In 2022, Keys helped him ring in his 90th birthday at Casa Cipriani, where she gushed about her family’s love and admiration for Davis. That same year, I was the only journalist to interview Davis at his Park Avenue apartment for “Extra.” There was no signs of slowing down as Davis told me, “It is my life. It’s what I do, and as long as health permits I’m doing what I like.”
Davis spent his final weeks doing what he loved, gallivanting around New York City, going to his favorite restaurants, attending, and hosting friends to watch the Knicks. On May 29, he was forced to slow down after being hospitalized with a respiratory infection. Reidel told us he was expected to escort him to a concert to see Air Supply, an Australian band he helped break through into America.
“They had one song that had a lyric that only made sense in Australia. Clive changed one word and he was very proud of the fact that he got royalties,” Riedel recalled.
Davis took his final breath nearly one month later at 10:58 a.m. on June 22, with his longtime partner, Greg Schreifer by his side. “I was holding his hand as he took his final breath, surrounded by family and dear friends who loved him deeply,” Shriefer told us.
Davis came out as bisexual in 2013, and wrote about Schriefer in his autobiography, “The Soundtrack of My Life.”
Shriefer told us, “For the past 21 years, Clive has been my partner, my greatest source of inspiration, my teacher, my confidant, and my best friend. Together we traveled the world, shared countless adventures, celebrated life’s greatest joys, and faced life’s challenges side by side. Every day with him was a gift… The world lost an icon today, but I lost the man I loved,” he said.
Davis is survived by Schriefer and his sons Fred, Doug and Mitchell, daughter Lauren, and his eight grandchildren Austin, Charlie, Matthew, Hayley, Harper, Sloane, Billie and Cody, two great grandchildren, and cousin Jo Schuman.
