Clive Davis Hosts A Five-Hour Virtual Gala

Clive Davis wasn’t able to pack the Beverly Hilton for his annual pre-Grammys bash this year, so he brought thousands to Zoom for a five-hour star-studded bash instead.

The hitmaking legend curated a selection of his favorite musical performances — including Janis Joplin at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, Whitney Houston’s 10-minute medley at the 1994 American Music Awards and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performing “Empire State of Mind” from Times Square in 2016.

An MTV video of the late Notorious B.I.G. performing “Big Poppa” had Gayle King with her hands in the air and rapping along to the lyrics.

Davis didn’t just rely on past concerts to entertain the Zoom crowd. John Legend, Jamie Foxx, and Jennifer Hudson each performed. Hudson, who portrays Aretha Franklin in an upcoming biopic, honored her by singing “Amazing Grace.”

Davis also conducted interviews with Fox, Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Diddy, Alicia Keys, Barry Gibb, Chance the Rapper, David Foster, Gladys Knight, and Carole King, between sets.

Stewart opened up about how losing his virginity inspired his classic, “Maggie May.”

“It was like six seconds. I got eight children to prove it,” he quipped. “‘Maggie,’ I never get tired of singing it,” he said.

Joni Mitchell, Dionne Warwick, Melba Moore, Beverly Johnson, Nancy Pelosi, Sam Moore, Deborah Cox, Berry Gordy, Marjorie “DJ Mad Marj” Gubelmann, DJ Cassidy, Estelle, and Rosanna Scotto were some of the VIPs who attended.

Davis closed out the virtual gala with Beyonce’s 2009 “Single Ladies” performance from the MTV Video Music Awards. The event benefited MusiCares, and Davis will host another, official Grammys party on March 13.

He stressed he wanted to “use the time to hear some wonderful music, and have a really great time together. It’s not something one should ever postpone. Music is the universal language,” he said.

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