Clive Davis's Pre-Grammy Gala: Celebrating 51 Years of Music History and Honoring Whitney Houston

On Saturday night (Jan. 31), legendary record executive Clive Davis and the Recording Academy will host their annual Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. It will be the 51st edition of the event, which was turned into a fundraiser last year following the devastating Los Angeles fires.

The party is one of the most coveted invitations of the year, drawing A-listers from the worlds of entertainment, sports and politics and featuring an array of one-of-a-kind performances from newcomers and icons alike.

Davis tells Billboard the party is a highlight of his year too, and it makes him feel good that it is still as “alive and anticipated” more than a half-century later.

Prior to the party, Davis’ protégé Whitney Houston will be honored posthumously with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. To be sure, asking Davis his favorite Houston song is, as he says, akin to asking him his favorite child. Instead, he settles for a major moment.

“I can’t separate the thrill of the seven consecutive No. 1 records we had because I would listen to a demo from music publishers, I would listen with my A&R staff to hundreds and narrow it down to 12 or 13, meet with Whitney for the album and to realize from hearing the demo to having the record recorded, to having the record released, to have it explode to No. 1 seven times” was incredibly special, he says.

Davis, an avid Billboard reader, also noted “I was both surprised but gratified” in October 2023 when Billboard named Houston’s 1987 hit, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me”)” the No. 1 Greatest Pop Song of all time. He recalls hearing the Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill-penned demo for the first time and sending it to producer Narada Michael Walden, who modified it for Houston to make it more soulful. Davis and Houston were musical soulmates, despite the differences in their ages and background, he says, which led to their ability to create magic over and over.

In the interview, Davis also reveals some unbelievable pairings that he still can’t believe he pulled off at past parties and the guests that remain on his wish list to attend.

Though the performances are kept top-secret until showtime, Davis says that Olivia Dean and Alex Warren are two new artists who have caught his eye. Not secret are the Industry Icons honored at the event, who this year are brothers Monte and Avery Lipman, founder/chairman and founder/vice chairman of Republic Collective, respectively.

<a title="Billboard" href="https://www.billboard.com/">
	<svg viewbox="0 0 455.133 94.711" style="height:100%;width:100%" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M70.107 28.859h21.318V93.69H70.107zM95.834 3.51h21.312v90.18H95.834zm25.723 0h21.312v90.18h-21.312zm250.711 32.035v-6.686h-21.315V93.69h21.315V62.792c0-7.949 4.154-12.237 11.728-12.237h2.522V28.229c-6.432.253-11.1 2.271-14.25 7.316M80.764 0c-6.822 0-12.359 5.535-12.359 12.361s5.537 12.363 12.359 12.363c6.828 0 12.361-5.537 12.361-12.363S87.592 0 80.764 0m244.457 33.795c-2.996-3.268-9.967-5.965-15.26-5.965-16.098 0-27.646 10.613-30.473 26.389-3.082-15.135-16.273-26.78-32.359-26.78-16.24 0-29.537 11.781-32.444 27.2-2.822-16.026-15.428-26.648-31.061-26.648-5.801 0-10.596 1.262-14.76 4.16V3.521h-21.312V93.7h20.938v-5.93c5.045 4.668 10.467 6.812 17.154 6.812 14.398 0 26.52-11.271 29.113-26.807 3.055 15.203 16.169 26.76 32.373 26.76 16.065 0 28.949-11.312 32.228-26.125 2.711 16.18 15.531 26.301 30.854 26.301 5.293 0 11.099-1.771 15.009-4.668V93.7h21.312V65.327q.002-1.745-.031-3.406.033-1.66.031-3.405V28.969h-21.312zM181.355 73.948c-6.826 0-12.359-5.535-12.359-12.363 0-6.824 5.533-12.358 12.359-12.358 6.824 0 12.359 5.534 12.359 12.358.001 6.828-5.534 12.363-12.359 12.363m65.774-.99c-6.822 0-12.361-5.539-12.361-12.363s5.539-12.358 12.361-12.358c6.824 0 12.359 5.535 12.359 12.358.001 6.823-5.532 12.363-12.359 12.363m64.047.392c-6.826 0-12.354-5.539-12.354-12.363s5.527-12.358 12.354-12.358c6.832 0 12.359 5.535 12.359 12.358.001 6.824-5.527 12.363-12.359 12.363M433.815 3.5v28.631c-4.156-2.9-8.949-4.16-14.757-4.16-17.782 0-31.654 13.746-31.654 33.55 0 18.664 13.368 33.043 29.642 33.043 6.68 0 12.103-2.146 17.152-6.811v5.928h20.938V3.5zm-12.553 70.288c-6.817 0-12.354-5.539-12.354-12.358 0-6.828 5.535-12.365 12.354-12.365 6.828 0 12.363 5.537 12.363 12.365 0 6.819-5.535 12.358-12.363 12.358M36.072 27.99c-5.803 0-10.594 1.262-14.76 4.16V3.521H0V93.7h20.936v-5.93c5.045 4.668 10.469 6.812 17.156 6.812 16.268 0 29.637-14.383 29.637-33.047 0-19.797-13.874-33.545-31.657-33.545m-2.269 45.958c-6.824 0-12.359-5.535-12.359-12.363 0-6.824 5.535-12.358 12.359-12.358 6.826 0 12.359 5.534 12.359 12.358 0 6.828-5.533 12.363-12.359 12.363"></path></svg>		<span></span>

Clive Davis's Pre-Grammy Gala: Celebrating 51 Years of Music History and Honoring Whitney Houston

Related Articles

Related Articles

Comments (0)