Martha Stewart wrote a moving tribute to her late friend and “mentor” David Davis after his death at the age of 94.
“My dear friend, mentor and neighbor, the indomitable [SIC]tireless, amazing, talented, intuitive, Mr. Clive Davis passed away today,” Stewart, 84, wrote via Instagram on Monday, June 22. “I will miss him dearly. Not only did he provide us with some of the greatest performers and their music for over half a century, but he was also the kindest, most thoughtful and caring human being.”
She continued, “Over the years I attended many of his incredible Grammy parties, his birthday celebrations, his dinners honoring his artists and friends, but I was also able to honor him by the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai. We will miss you, Clive!!!!!”
Stewart was one of many to pay tribute to Davis following Monday’s announcement of his death at his Manhattan home. His death came several weeks after his spokesperson told TMZ in May that Davis had “an upper respiratory infection and, out of an abundance of caution, was admitted to the hospital.”
The music executive played a crucial role in guiding the careers of legends like Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Bruce SpringsteenAerosmith and Aretha Franklinamong many others, throughout his 66-year musical career. Davis won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
He is survived by four adult children: he shared Fred Davis66, and Laura Davis64 years old, with his first wife Helena Cohenand welcome David Davis56, and David Davis52 years old, with second wife Janet Adelberg.
“To his family, Clive was dad and grandpa, the constant presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement and unconditional love,” the Davis family said in a joint statement Monday. “No matter how extraordinary his professional achievements, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved.”
His statement concluded: “Throughout every chapter of his extraordinary life, family remained Clive’s greatest pride and deepest joy. Today, we celebrate not only a towering figure whose influence changed music forever, but the man who led our family with grace, generosity and kindness. We will miss him dearly, cherish him always and carry his love with us for the rest of our lives.”
Barry Manilow and Clive Davis in April 2022.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesMany of the artists Davis mentored also shared memorial messages in his honor on Monday.
“Here at E Street, we mourn the passing of recording great man and close friend Clive Davis,” Springsteen wrote via Instagram. “At 22, he changed my life when he signed me to Columbia Records. He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success. A great man. All our prayers and love.”
Manilow, 83, added: “My heart is heavy at the loss of my friend Clive Davis. For 50 years, we worked together, created together, argued together and celebrated together. Yes, some would say it was a business. But for Clive, it never was. It was a family. And I was honored to be a part of his.”