Clive with Barbra Streisand

After three years of hosting his "Pre-Grammy Gala" remotely as a result of the pandemic, Clive Davis is understandably looking forward to returning to the Beverly Hills Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for his annual schmoozefest and concert. As the big night approaches, Clive is back in a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel, his L.A. base of operations for more than a half-century, working out last-minute details alongside his attorney son, Doug, who’s been deeply involved in the production of the event for a decade and a half, and a team from the Recording Academy, which has co-sponsored the event since 2008.

In the concluding half of our conversation, Clive continues reeling off some of his favorite "Pre-Grammy Galas."

What else stands out as you survey the 47 years of this party?
I remember when I was leaving Arista and Whitney Houston was the featured artist. There were only two that year—it was Whitney and Carlos [Santana]—and I had no idea what she’d sing, before she or I knew we'd reunite. She came to the center of the stage with The Rickey Minor Band behind her, and she just sang to me, “I Believe in You and Me,” followed by “I Will Always Love You.” I will never forget that night.

It was in 2000. Stevie Wonder came up onstage and spoke from the heart, and Lauryn Hill. And Mary J. Blige. I also remember a duet one year that Whitney did with Natalie Cole. There are just so many incredible performances that have come out of that Grammy party that are people’s lifetime memories, not just mine. And I’ve heard so many of them the last few weeks when people have not just RSVP’d but either called or wrote how special this night has been for them for so many years and how they’re looking forward to it. It makes you feel good. Very touching is the best way to put it.

Who's on the gala team?
Doug, Stacy Carr, Branden Chapman, Rex Supa and Chantel Sausedo of the Recording Academy.

Doug’s been involved in the party for quite some time now. It must be handy to have someone working alongside you who's so close to you and understands your needs.
Yes, indeed. But we’re working as a team with the Recording Academy, so it’s not just a family affair. Branden and Rex and this year, Chantel, have been incredibly participatory.

What makes this party unique is that everyone is first knocked out at the cocktail hour and dinner. And who's attending? It’s not only the head of every American record company, and now internationally, but also the heads of the networks, the heads of most major movie studios... Nancy Pelosi has attended 22 consecutive Grammy parties. And now the heads of the streamers, coupled with those from sports, tech companies... So it’s a unique audience. But what really makes it unique is the show.

Because of technical things, we usually start with a rock artist, because they’re harder to work as far as stage waits. So over the years, whether it was Foo Fighters, whether it was the surviving members of Nirvana performing with Beck, it really has been special.

It must get your creative juices flowing to plan a concert and work that closely with artists again.
Well, I did that in 2021. I was asked by the mayor of New York to curate and be the producer of the Central Park concert dedicated to telling the world that New York was ready to reopen during COVID. So we did that, and it was broadcast on CNN.

I watched it.
You were one of 16 million. CNN tells me it’s their highest-rated show. It was really a great show until the rain halted it before Patti Smith and Springsteen could take the stage. But that was a great evening.

Your 90th birthday party was another big event.
That is true, and I’ll never forget it. It was a beautiful evening where there were a number of the executives who'd spanned the decades with me, as well as words and performances from Barry Manilow, Dionne Warwick, Earth, Wind & Fire, Artie Garfunkel, Alicia Keys, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen... It was just very wonderful and touching and special.

That was a personal birthday; this is pretty much an industry show, so it’s totally different. The only thing that’s the same is some of the faces. Knowing that there are certain faces in the audience that everybody looks forward to breaking bread with and they’re all coming by is exciting.

Uncaptioned photos: Clive with Doug Davis; Clive with Nancy Pelosi