This year’s New York Pops’ gala will salute music mogul Clive Davis. Many of the artists Davis discovered or brought to prominence will perform in his honor.

He said every song brings back treasured memories from a career filled with superstars, mega hits and pinch-me moments.

“I get this call from both New York Pops and Carnegie Hall that only songs that were done during my career will be played. So, it’s wonderful. What can I say? It’s beautiful. It really is one that you pinch yourself,” Davis said at a sit-down interview in his home.

What You Need To Know

  • Clive Davis had no background in music, but rose to become the head of Columbia, Arista, J and RCA Records

  • The New York Pops will honor the Brooklyn native with a gala concert on April 29 at Carnegie Hall

  • Artists from his career, including Barry Manilow and Busta Rhymes, will perform in his his honor

  • Davis is often lauded for having a golden ear for a hit song, and the ability to pair the right song with the right artist to create a hit

A lot of great hit-makers are slated to perform at the gala concert, including Barry Manilow, Dionne Warwick, Babyface, Busta Rhymes and John Mellencamp.

Davis was born in Brooklyn and graduated from NYU and Harvard law — with no musical background, he rose from being a company lawyer in 1960 to the head of Columbia Records, and later, Arista, J and RCA records.

Janis Joplin was the first of countless success stories, including one of the bestselling artists of all time, Whitney Houston. A 2017 documentary on Davis is called, “The Soundtrack of Our Lives,” the tribute concert is similarly titled.

Davis always understood the importance of a hit song. He even asked Bruce Springsteen to add two radio friendly songs to his first album.

“Bruce reminisced about going to a beach and a park during a two-week period, and he wrote Blinded by the Light and Spirit in the Night, two classics,” Davis said.

When asked what three songs from his career people will still know in 100 years, Davis said it was a very difficult question, but answered giving it some thought.

“When Kevin Costner, David Porter and I gave I Will Always Love You to Whitney [Houston] for The Bodyguard — that song is a standard. Don’t Cry Out Loud, sung by Melissa Manchester. I don’t know about 100 years for these, but let me say 50 years after I gave Mandy to Barry Manilow, it’s a standard.”

Davis said he looked forward to Manilow singing Mandy at the concert.

“Everybody knows it. Everybody will not only sing along, but they’ll also give them an incredible standing ovation,” Davis said.