SonyBMG Chief Creative Officer and three-time GRAMMY® winner Clive Davis and The Recording Academy® will present the annual Pre-GRAMMY Gala on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, continuing the party that has been a Davis legacy for nearly 30 years. This exclusive, star-studded celebration - attended by artists and industry VIPs in music, film and television and featuring special musical performances - again will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., the evening before the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards.
As part of the evening's festivities, The Academy will present Davis with the President's Merit Award at the 2009 GRAMMY Salute To Industry IconsSM in recognition of his significant contributions to the music industry and the impact his efforts have had on music and the business of music. Past recipients of the GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons President's Merit Award include Ahmet Ertegun, Mo Ostin, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, and Berry Gordy. The Pre-GRAMMY Gala now becomes an official GRAMMY Week event as The Academy will continue and expand upon this time-honored tradition.
"Clive Davis is a true creative genius and visionary, and The Recording Academy is proud to partner with him for the first time to present the Pre-GRAMMY Gala - an event that he founded and developed into one of GRAMMY week's most sought-after and hot tickets," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "In addition, his illustrious career has paved the way for numerous artists and music industry players for more than 40 years, and we are delighted to pay tribute to such a prolific entertainment industry icon. His influence in both the artistic and business aspects of music is legendary, and his sharp ear and fine-tuned intuition are unparalleled."
A New York native who holds degrees from New York University and Harvard Law School, Davis began his career at Columbia Records where he was appointed president in 1967 and signed such legendary rock artists as Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Joel, Janis Joplin, Santana, and Bruce Springsteen. In 1974, Davis went on to co-found Arista Records where the label developed the careers of Aretha Franklin, the Grateful Dead, Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, and Dionne Warwick among the diverse roster under his leadership. While at Arista Records, Davis accepted his first GRAMMY Award in 1999 as co-producer of Supernatural alongside Carlos Santana and others (Album Of The Year).
His business ventures include forming LaFace Records in 1989 with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A." Reid, and creating Bad Boy Records in 1994 with Sean "Diddy" Combs. In 2000, J Records was born (in partnership with BMG) and emerged as a dominant force, producing the works of Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, and Luther Vandross. Davis received the Trustees Award in 2000 from The Recording Academy, the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2003, Davis was appointed Chairman/CEO of BMG U.S. Label Group where he oversaw an expanded RCA Music Group including J Records, RCA Records, and Arista Records. After BMG and Sony Music merged, in 2008 Davis was appointed Chief Creative Officer, Sony BMG, where he continues to nurture and develop talent such as Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis.
As a humanitarian, Davis has made tireless efforts in the battle against AIDS, spearheading donations of millions of dollars for AIDS research. In 1990, he turned a 15th anniversary concert at Arista Records into a benefit that raised $2 million. He has received humanitarian honors from such organizations as the American Cancer Society, the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), the T.J. Martell Foundation and the Anti-Defamation League. For his impact on the music business, he has received honors from the America Cinema Foundation and the City of New York, and was the first record executive to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. In 2002, his $5 million donation helped create the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at his undergraduate alma mater, New York University.
