Avon Theatre Honors Music Legend Clive Davis with 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award

The Avon Theatre Film Center celebrated an extraordinary night of music, film, and legacy at its 2025 Lifetime Achievement Gala honoring Clive Davis, the legendary record producer and five-time GRAMMY Award winner whose influence has shaped generations of artists. The sold-out event on October 14th featured live performances, heartfelt tributes, and a star-studded celebration of Davis's almost six-decade music career that has fundamentally transformed the recording industry.

Musical performances by Ryan Shaw performing "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Mandy Gonzalez with "Don't Cry Out Loud," Paul Shaffer playing "Piano Man," and Capathia Jenkins singing "I Will Always Love You" highlighted the evening, with Todd Ellison serving as music director. Video tributes from Barbra Streisand, Martha Stewart, Melissa Manchester, and Steve Wonder honored Davis's unmatched contributions to the music industry, demonstrating the breadth of his influence across multiple generations and genres.

The award presentation by Pat Houston, Whitney Houston's sister-in-law, delivered an emotional tribute recognizing Davis's enduring mentorship and his pivotal role in shaping Whitney Houston's career. This moment underscored Davis's reputation as one of the music industry's most influential talent developers, having discovered and nurtured numerous iconic artists throughout his career.

The evening concluded with all performers joining together for a moving rendition of "That's What Friends Are For," bringing the audience to its feet in celebration of friendship, artistry, and shared history. Proceeds from the gala support the Avon Theatre's nonprofit mission to present independent, foreign, and documentary films, and to expand its educational and cultural programming in the heart of downtown Stamford.

In addition to the live event, the Avon's online auction remains open through Tuesday October 28, offering exclusive items, experiences, and collectibles to benefit the theatre. Bidding details can be found by visiting https://www.avontheatre.org.

Davis's career began at Columbia Records where he was appointed president in 1967 and signed legendary rock artists including Sly and the Family Stone, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Joel, Janis Joplin, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Aerosmith and Chicago. In 1974, Davis co-founded Arista Records where he signed Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and Patti Smith and further developed the careers of Aretha Franklin, the Grateful Dead, the Kinks, and Dionne Warwick.

His business ventures include forming LaFace Records in 1989 with Babyface and L.A. Reid. In 2000, J Records was born in partnership with BMG and emerged as a dominant force, producing the works of Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Busta Rhymes and Luther Vandross. Davis was then 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 Music Worldwide, where he continues to nurture and develop talent. His humanitarian efforts include tireless work in the battle against AIDS, spearheading donations of millions of dollars for AIDS research. The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music was created at his undergraduate alma mater, New York University in 2002, further cementing his legacy in music education.

Davis's autobiography The Soundtrack Of My Life, published in 2013, has become the largest-selling book involving music in history and a New York Times bestseller. The documentary film on his life, Clive Davis: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, produced by the Ridley Scott firm and directed by Chris Perkel, launched worldwide in 2017 and made its premiere on Netflix in September 2019. More information about Davis's career and achievements can be found at https://www.clivedavis.com.

This recognition comes during a period of continued celebration for Davis, who was honored at Carnegie Hall in April 2024 with The New York Pops 41st Birthday Gala and celebrated the 50th anniversary of his legendary Pre-Grammy Gala in February 2025. In June 2025, The Apollo Theater honored Davis with the Legacy Award and inducted him into their historic Walk of Fame.