Funeral for Clive Davis, legendary music executive, held in Manhattan

Legendary music executive Clive Davis was laid to rest Monday at a private funeral after a service at Central Synagogue in Manhattan celebrating the life of the five-time Grammy Award-winner.

Davis, 94, died at his Manhattan home on June 22 of an age-related illness, according to his publicist. 

Davis helped the careers of generations of artists. He worked with a who's-who of iconic artists, including Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Simon and Garfunkel, Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand, Earth Wind and Fire, Patti Smith, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, LL Cool Jay and Dionne Warwick.

Later in his career, Davis' roster included Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Notorious B.I.G., Luther Vandross, and more. 

"Brave and full of ideas"

Many of the artists attended the service Monday morning and, in tears, took the podium at the synagogue Davis attended for much of his life. 

"There are moments in life that feel like they were written before you ever live them so that something extraordinary can be born. Meeting you was one of those moments for me," Keys said.

"He would show me a song, I would turn it down. We would argue, I would rearrange it," Manilow said. 

"I can tell you, I adored him," Warwick said. "He was also asking where's my Dionne? Well, I'm here today Clive, for you."   

Springsteen described Davis as "bombastic, brave and full of ideas," and said "he was born to run ... everything." 

Hudson, holding back tears, performed an emotional tribute that included Houston's "I Will Always Love You."

"Championed the greatest artists"

With a career spanning over six decades, Davis became the man with golden ears, taking record labels to higher heights and working on all musical genres.     

His impact was especially felt in jazz, rock, country, hip-hop, and R&B. 

"He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations," Davis' family said in a statement when he died. 

Davis, a Brooklyn native, was born in 1932. Both of his parents died when he was a teenager. He told "CBS Sunday Morning" in 2011 that he learned the importance of hard work early. 

"There was no substitute for hard work. You had to earn it. I earned every scholarship that I had to get me through law school as well as college," Davis said at the time. 

He went on to graduate from NYU and Harvard Law School, and entered the music business by working as an attorney for Columbia Records. By 1967, he was running Columbia Records. 

Davis was known to the world for his extravagant style and lavish Grammy parties. But to his family, Davis was a father and grandfather. 

"Dad, I love you and will miss you dearly," his son, Fred, said. 

Davis' sons said he already started planning the Grammys party for 2027, and they intend to make it the best one yet, in his honor.