Clive Davis, one of the record industry’s great executives, Photo: AP
Clive Davis is undoubtedly one of the executives most innovative and influential of industry record, a unique headhunteror has undoubtedly had an impact on music over the past 50 years.
She has signed and discovered the likes of Janis Joplin, Santana, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Simon & Garfunkel, Whitney Houston, Carly Simon, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5 and many more.
Today he is 90 years old and remains active as ever, devoting a lot of time to many foundations. Today he launched a new project: a program called Clive Davis: The most iconic presentationfor Paramount+ video streaming signals.
So far, there are four episodes premiering today, exclusively on Paramount +, for all of Latin America. The proposal is to bring viewers to some of their favorite musical performances over the past decades, adding excerpts from their virtual gala events ahead of the 2021 Grammy Awards.
The original episodes will feature custom performances from Clive, full old performances, and parts of his exclusive interviews with each of the top featured artists. A special fourth episode with extended interviews is also available.
Clive Davis in 2022
Viewers will enjoy the full concert from Tina Turner, Notorious BIG, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, HER, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Bee Gees, Alicia Keys along with Jay-Z, Joni Mitchell, Ray Charles and Willie Nelson, and What to.
Comprising the stellar lineup, the series also features exclusive interviews with industry titans including Oprah Winfrey, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, HER, Carole King, Rod Stewart, Barry Gibb, Alicia Keys, Joni Mitchell, Jamie Foxx, Brian May and Roger Taylor.
The interview
Clive Davis with Alicia Keys in 2004. Photo: AP
Did you idea this project, or did they contact you from the channel?
-It’s an idea that happened to me personally. Every year I have a gala where we celebrate music, and it’s the night before the Grammys. It was the Pre-Grammy Gala, and what happened in the first year of the pandemic was we couldn’t make it, so I thought I’d do those conversations that were broadcast only for Gala guests.
-Are they just talking artist friends?
-What I did was talk about memorable, iconic presentations. I invited the artists to join the proposal, and I was amazed that they all said yes. The response was impressive and then we donated all proceeds to the MusicCares foundation. Today, we are launching it worldwide with Paramount.
-How proud to have such idols join your invitation, right?
-Yes, the answer is that it raised me. No doubt this is because I know them very well, and that also contributed to showing a side that people don’t know under normal circumstances. The one who wasn’t available for discussion was Tina Turner, who had health issues, so instead I chatted with Oprah Winfrey, who I know is a big fan of Tina, even up to the point of climbing to make backing vocals in shows. .
“They are the great figures of history”
Whitney Houston with Clive Davis in 2009 Photo: Reuters.
-Was it easier to discover talent then, or do you think you can do the same now through digital platforms and social networks?
-I’m not saying it’s easy, but a good number of these artists are really the great figures of history. Time will tell if today’s artists will survive the test of time and be in the top 30-40 years from now. That’s my greatest pride: the artists I’ve discovered are still relevant decades later.
-Do you keep an eye on new artists?
-Yes. I listen to all the songs and watch all the videos that made it into the Top 20, in all styles. I am up to date with my passion for music.
Clive Davis, with Carlos Santana in 2004. Photo: AP
-What is the best way to discover an artist: listening to their songs, going to a show or watching their recording in a studio?
I think it’s a combination. It is very important to study what they write. And if they don’t write, we need to see if they sing with a peculiar passion, like Whitney Houston did. It’s not easy to find the new Dylan or Aretha or Bruce in a world with so much hip-hop, which I like, but it’s different.
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Source: Clarin