Legendary music executive Clive Davis died Monday at his home in Manhattan at the age of 84. He was responsible for signing dozens of artists, including Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen and others. Many of those artists paid tribute to Davis following the announcement of his passing.
One act, however, honored Davis in a song decades ago. The band was Aerosmith in the 1979 autobiographical rocker “No Surprize” (yes, Steven Tyler spelled “surprize” with a “z”) from the band’s album Night in the Ruts.
? SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ?
“No Surprize” wasn’t released as a single and Night in the Ruts came at a fraught time for the band. Guitarist Joe Perry, who co-wrote the song with Tyler, left the band while the album was in the works and it stalled at No. 14 when it was released, although it eventually was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Assn. of America from sales of 1 million units.
In the song, Tyler recounts the band’s rise with lyrics about their meeting with the legendary music executive, then at Columbia Records.
“Nineteen seventy-one / We all heard the starters gun / New York was such a pityBut at Max's Kansas City we won / We all shot the shit at the barWith Johnny O'Toole and his scar / And then old Clive Davis saidI'm surely gonna make us a star /I'm gonna make you a starJust the way you are / But with all his style / I could see in his eyesThat we is goin' to trial / It was no surprise…”
It didn’t happen overnight, but Aerosmith did become stars after the song “Dream On,” from their 1973 debut album, was re-released as a single in 1975 and later reached No. 6 on the Hot 100.
By that time, however, Davis had left Columbia. He was fired from the label amid claims he used the label’s funds for his personal expenses.
Davis, of course, would have the last laugh, making history at Arista Records with a bevy of superstar signings including Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Whitney Houston and others.
Aerosmith wasn’t the only act to drop Davis’s name in a song over the years. Around the same time Aerosmith dropped “No Surprize,” Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead began to change the lyrics of the band’s “Jack Straw” from "we used to play for silver, now we play for life" to "we used to play for acid, now we play for Clive,” following the band’s move to Arista Records.
Eminem dropped a reference to Davis in his 2000 hit “The Real Slim Shady” and Busta Rhymes has a track on his 2001 album Genesis called "Intro" that features a staged phone call between music executive and the rapper.
Other mentions include NSYNC’s “Pop” from 2001, which includes a shoutout to Davis and his label J Records. In "Talk" by DJ Khaledfeaturing Kanye West & T-Pain from 2008, West gives a nod to the music legend’s parties with the line: “In the middle of the island, throwin' parties like Clive Davis..."
Another rapper also referred to the music executive in 2018. In the song "All I Know" by Nipsey Hussle featuring J Stone, the rapper and aspiring record mogul rapped, "I'm independent but my vision Clive Davis..."
Hence then, the article about 1979 classic rock deep cut immortalized late music executive clive davis career contributions was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 1979 Classic Rock Deep Cut Immortalized Late Music Executive Clive Davis' Career Contributions )
Also on site :
- You're Probably Wasting $200 a Month on These Sneaky Bills
- Mindy Kaling On ‘Not Suitable For Work’ Unusual Season Order, Risqué Title & Those ‘Friends’ Comparisons
- SDG&E kickstarts process to set future rates — and City Council votes to back state bills to rein in utility costs