At Clive Davis’ funeral Monday, Alicia Keys paid tribute to the late, legendary record executive with a eulogy she titled, “A Letter to the Man Who Believed First.”
The emotional speech found Keys recalling her first audition for Davis and expounding upon the endless support and friendship he offered her during their years working together. “You didn’t just sign an artist. You recognized the soul,” Keys said. “You saw not just the music I’d already made, but the music that was still sweeping inside of me, waiting for someone with the wisdom and the courage to call it forward. You called it forward. You called me forward.”
Davis was one of Keys’ earliest champions. While still heading up Arista Records, he bought out her contract at Columbia, and then made sure to bring her to his new label, J Records, after his ouster from Arista. J Records released Keys’ blockbuster breakthrough debut Songs in A Minor in June 2001.Keys was one of several big names to speak at Davis’ funeral, along with Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, and Bruce Springsteen. The service also featured performances from Kenny G and Jennifer Hudson. You can read Keys’ full eulogy — which followed Hudson’s rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” — below.
