Doug Davis (businessman)

Last updated
Doug Davis
Headshot of Doug Davis.jpg
Born
Douglas J. Davis

(1974-03-06) March 6, 1974 (age 50)
New York City, US
Education Syracuse University (BA)
Fordham Law School (JD)
Occupation(s) Entertainment lawyer and record producer
Spouse
Jessie Muscio
(m. 2019)
Children2
Parent(s) Clive Davis
Janet Adelberg
Website davisfirm.net

Douglas J. Davis (born March 6, 1974) is an American music industry executive, entertainment lawyer [1] and producer. He has won four Grammy Awards. [2]

Contents

Early life

Davis was born in New York City, the son of Clive Davis and Janet Adelberg Davis. Davis has three siblings: Fred, Lauren and Mitchell. [1] He attended The Town School and the Dwight School in New York. [1] Davis graduated from The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University with a degree in political science, and from Fordham University School of Law with a Juris Doctor. [3] [4]

Career

Davis is the founder and managing partner of The Davis Firm, PLLC, a music, entertainment and sports law firm. [5]

He is the executive producer of the annual Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala. [6] [7] Davis has produced original music for Disney, Netflix, WWE (under the pseudonym, "def rebel"), Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures. [8] Davis was a licensed NBA player agent, [9] who negotiated Metta World Peace's agreement with the New York Knicks. [10] [11] In 2015, Davis, along with Roger Gastman, co-curated Work In Progress, an art gallery and marketplace event in Los Angeles. [12] In 2014–2015, Davis pursued the purchase of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks basketball team. [13]

Davis served as a producer of American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom by John Daversa Big Band Featuring 53 DACA recipients, which was released in September 2018. [14] The project received bipartisan support through endorsements from Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris and Lindsey Graham. [15] The album won three Grammys: Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album; Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella; and Best Improvised Jazz Solo. [16] In 2019, Davis served as a producer of Shoulder to Shoulder: A Centennial Tribute to Women's Suffrage by The Karrin Allyson Sextet, [17] and The Omni American Book Club by the Brian Lynch Big Band which won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. [18] Davis served as producer of Four Questions by Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra which won the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. [19] [20] Davis served as producer of Fandango At The Wall In New York by Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra which won the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. [21] [2] Davis served as executive producer of the Aretha Franklin memorial concert and TV special Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul which aired on CBS. [22]

In 2021, Davis produced New York's "We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert" in Central Park's Great Lawn for an estimated 60,000 people and global TV event broadcast by CNN in 200 countries and featured the performances of Andrea Bocelli, the New York Philharmonic, Jennifer Hudson, LL Cool J, Journey, Carlos Santana featuring Rob Thomas and others, [23] which celebrated the city's emergence from the pandemic. [24] [25]

Philanthropy

Davis sits on the Board of Directors of the UJA-Federation, [26] the boards of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University [27] and Fuck Cancer. [28] Davis serves on the entertainment committee for the annual Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Gala [29] and has chaired fundraising events for the Drug Policy Alliance [30] and City of Hope National Medical Center. [31]

Davis was a founding board member of the Forum on Law, Culture & Society, a position he held for ten years. [32] In 2016, Billboard magazine named Davis to its list of top philanthropists in music. [33]

Recognition

Davis appeared in Jeff Rabhan's book "Cool Jobs In The Music Business". [4] In 2012 The Hollywood Reporter called Davis's Twitter (@DJD) one of the "Top 5 Music Power" accounts. [34]

Since 2016, Billboard magazine has annually listed Davis one of the "top power lawyers" in music, [35] [36] [37] [38] since 2017 Best Lawyers in America has recognized Davis for Entertainment Law – Music. [39] Since 2018 Variety has named Davis in its Legal Impact issue [40] and in 2019 Davis was profiled by Super Lawyers for Entertainment & Sports. [41]

In 2018, Variety named Davis Lawyer of the Year at its annual Power Of Law event. [42]

Personal life

Davis lives in New York City with stylist wife Jessie Davis and their daughters Billie and Cody in a townhouse originally built for Clement Clarke Moore. [43] In 2007, during an emergency appendectomy, Davis was found to have a carcinoid tumor. [44] Davis described the moment as one of dumb luck which could have led to a terminal condition that became an awakening [43] and the impetus for his philanthropic work. [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitney Houston</span> American singer and actress (1963–2012)

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American singer and actress. Known as "the Voice", she is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of music and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 220 million records sold worldwide. She influenced many singers in the recording industry, and was known for her powerful, soulful vocals, vocal improvisation skills, use of gospel singing techniques in pop music, and live performances. Houston had 11 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and is the only artist to have seven consecutive number-one singles on the chart. Her accolades include eight Grammy Awards, 22 American Music Awards, two Emmy Awards, and 30 Guinness World Records. Houston's inductions include the Grammy Hall of Fame (twice), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aretha Franklin</span> American singer, songwriter, and pianist (1942–2018)

Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", Rolling Stone twice named her as the greatest singer of all time. With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the world's best-selling music artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clive Davis</span> American music executive (born 1932)

Clive Jay Davis is an American record producer, A&R executive, record executive, and lawyer. He has won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a non-performer, in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Miller</span> American musician, composer and producer

William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonists Wayne Shorter and David Sanborn, among others. He was the main songwriter and producer on three of Davis' albums: Tutu (1986), Music from Siesta (1987), and Amandla (1989). His collaboration with Vandross was especially close; he co-produced and served as the arranger for most of Vandross' albums, and he and Vandross co-wrote many of Vandross' songs, including the hits "I Really Didn't Mean It", "Any Love", "Power of Love/Love Power" and "Don't Want to Be a Fool". He also co-wrote the 1988 single "Da Butt" for Experience Unlimited.

Arista Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously a division of BMG Entertainment, the North American division of German conglomerate Bertelsmann. Founded in November 1974 by Clive Davis and deactivated in 2011, Arista was re-established in 2018. Along with RCA Records, Columbia Records, and Epic Records, it is one of Sony Music's four flagship record labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chick Corea</span> American musician and composer (1941–2021)

Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and occasional percussionist. His compositions "Spain", "500 Miles High", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba" and "Windows" are widely considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis's band in the late 1960s, he participated in the birth of jazz fusion. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever. Along with McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, Corea is considered to have been one of the foremost pianists of the post-John Coltrane era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Hudson</span> American singer and actress (born 1981)

Jennifer Kate Hudson also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, producer, and talk show host. Throughout her career, she has received various accolades for her works in recorded music, film, television, and theater. Hudson became the youngest woman and second African-American woman to receive all four of the major American entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.

<i>Whitney Houston</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston is the debut studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released on February 14, 1985, by Arista Records. The album initially had a slow commercial response, but began getting more popular in mid-1985. It eventually topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks in 1986, generating three number-one singles—"Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All"—on the Billboard Hot 100, which made it both the first debut album and the first album by a solo female artist to produce three number-one singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yolanda Adams</span> American gospel music singer

Yolanda Yvette Adams is an American gospel singer, actress, and host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She is one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time, having sold over 10 million albums worldwide. In addition to achieving multi-platinum status, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Dove Awards, five BET Awards, six NAACP Image Awards, six Soul Train Music Awards, two BMI Awards and sixteen Stellar Awards. She was the first Gospel artist to be awarded an American Music Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L.A. Reid</span> American record executive (born 1956)

Antonio Marquis "L.A." Reid is an American record executive, A&R representative, and record producer. He has served as the chairman and CEO of Epic Records and The Island Def Jam Music Group, as well as the president and CEO of Arista Records. He co-founded the record label Hitco Entertainment in 2017, which was sold to Concord in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrice Rushen</span> American jazz pianist and R&B singer

Patrice Louise Rushen is an American jazz pianist and R&B singer. She is also a composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music director.

Arturo "Chico" O'Farrill was a Cuban composer, arranger, and conductor, best known for his work in the Latin idiom, specifically Afro-Cuban jazz or "Cubop", although he also composed traditional jazz pieces and even symphonic works.

<i>A Rose Is Still a Rose</i> 1998 studio album by Aretha Franklin

A Rose Is Still a Rose is the thirty-fourth studio album by American recording artist Aretha Franklin. It was released on March 24, 1998, by Arista Records. Conceived after a longer hiatus and a complete departure from her previous studio album What You See Is What You Sweat (1991), the album includes influences of 1990s hip hop as well as modern-day contemporary R&B and soul music. Throughout the project, Franklin worked with many famed hip hop producers and rappers, such as Lauryn Hill, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Jermaine Dupri, and Daryl Simmons. With the latter acts producing most of the album, A Rose Is Still a Rose deviated from the adult contemporary sound of Franklin's older work.

<i>So Damn Happy</i> (Aretha Franklin album) 2003 studio album by Aretha Franklin

So Damn Happy is the thirty-fifth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. Her first studio album in five years. The album featured the Grammy Award-winning track "Wonderful", a single co-written and produced by Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence and G Syier Hawkins Brown.

Jim Anderson is a recording engineer and Producer of acoustic music, in the recording, radio, television, and film industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Taylor (businessman)</span> Canadian entertainment lawyer (active 1990– )

Christopher Normand Taylor is a Canadian music industry lawyer and Grammy Award winning record label executive.

Robert Adrian Stringer is a British music industry executive. He's served as the chairman of Sony Music Group and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment since 2017. He is also a director of Luton Town F.C.

Peter Edge is an English-American record executive. He is the chairman and CEO of RCA Records.

Kabir Sehgal is an American author, composer, producer, navy officer, military veteran, investment banker, and financial executive. He is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of twelve books. He has also won five Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards as a record producer. He was previously a vice president at JPMorgan Chase and worked at First Data Corporation.

<i>American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom</i> 2018 album by John Daversa Big Band

American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom is a studio album by the John Daversa Big Band and produced by Kabir Sehgal and Doug Davis, released on September 21, 2018. The album was recorded with more than 50 singers and musicians who entered America as children. Daversa intended the album as a message to politicians to protect immigrants. The album has been described as "invigorating" and "one of, if not the most, important musical statements across several genres this year aimed at bringing unity and healing divisiveness".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stern, Alix (4 October 2019). "On Again, Off Again, and With a Nudge, Now On Forever". New York Times.
  2. 1 2 "Artist - Doug Davis". Grammy Awards . Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  3. "Music With a Message". Maxwell Perspective. Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Spring 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  4. 1 2 Rabhan, Jeff (2013). "Cool Jobs In The Music Business". inTune/Hal Leonard.
  5. "The Davis Firm - Firm Overview". bestlawfirms.usnews.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  6. Davis, Clive (2013). The Soundtrack of My Life Simon & Schuster
  7. Diehl, Matt (February 2, 2015). "From Aretha Franklin to Puff Daddy, Industry Heavyweights Share Inside Stories From Clive Davis' Legendary Pre-Grammy Gala". Billboard Magazine.
  8. Parisi, Paula (2 November 2018). "For Mickey Mouse's 90th, Not Your Grandfather's Custom Music House". Variety .
  9. "Agents Rumors - HoopsHype". hoopshype.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  10. Berman, Marc (July 15, 2013). "Knicks, Metta World Peace have mutual interest". New York Post.
  11. Beck, Howard (July 15, 2013). "Metta World Peace Finds His Way Back Home". The New York Times.
  12. Halperin, Shirley (November 26, 2015). "'Work In Progress' Pop-Art Marketplace Opens in Downtown L.A." The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. Johnson, Richard (September 12, 2014). "The Lawyer Who Could Be The Next Owner Of The Hawks". The New York Post.
  14. Redmon, Jeremy. "Young immigrants from Georgia featured on Grammy-nominated jazz album". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  15. Saval, Malina (28 September 2018). "Immigrant Song: 'American Dreamers' Album Is Hope on Wax". Variety . Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  16. "Dreamers Get Some Stage Time at Grammys, After Playing on a 3x-Winning Big Band Album". Variety. 10 February 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  17. Newman, Melinda. "Harry Belafonte, Rosanne Cash, Karrin Allyson Celebrate 'Centennial Tribute to Women's Suffrage'". Billboard.
  18. "Awards Winners & Nominees Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  19. "Grammys 2021: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone . March 14, 2021.
  20. "Arturo O'Farrill & ALJO Release New Album: "Four Questions"". latinjazznet.com. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  21. "Grammys 2023: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone . February 5, 2023.
  22. Trakin, Roy (January 15, 2019). "Ken Ehrlich Pays Tribute to Aretha Franklin With Joyous Grammy Tribute".
  23. Halperin, Shirley (August 22, 2021). "'Bruce Springsteen Was in His Dressing Room': 'We Love NYC' Producer on the Effort to Keep the Concert Going" . Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  24. Arnold, Chuck (August 22, 2022). "We Love NYC concert: Music history before Central Park was washed out". New York Post. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  25. Sisario, Ben (November 21, 2022). "Central Park Concert Draws Thousands to Cheer New York's Comeback". The New York Times . Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  26. "Leadership » UJA-Federation of New York". UJA-Federation of New York. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  27. "NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music Announces The Members of Its First Advisory Board".
  28. Digital, Daymarker. "Fuck Cancer". Fuck Cancer. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  29. "Fairfield County Look - Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation 2012". Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  30. "Re:FORM Art Auction - Offline". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  31. Chagollan, Steve (8 June 2015). "Natalie Cole, Aloe Blacc to Perform at Songs of Hope Fundraiser". variety.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  32. "Meet the Board". Archived from the original on 2012-01-22. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  33. 1 2 "How Swizz Beatz & A Brush With Death Inspired Entertainment Lawyer Doug Davis to Give Back". Billboard.
  34. "20 Music Industry Innovators". The Hollywood Reporter.
  35. "The Music Industry's Top Lawyers 2016: Who Made the List?". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  36. "Billboard's 2017 Top Music Lawyers Revealed". Billboard.
  37. "Revealed: Billboard's 2018 Top Music Lawyers Led By Universal's Jeffrey Harleston". Billboard.
  38. "Revealed: Billboard's 2019 Top Music Lawyers Led by BTS Counsel Debbie White of Loeb & Loeb". Billboard.
  39. "Best Lawyers in the New York Area". issuu.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  40. Doperalski, Daniel (2019-04-10). "Variety's 2019 Legal Impact Report". Variety. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  41. "Top Rated New York, NY Entertainment & Sports Attorney | Doug Davis". Super Lawyers.
  42. Saval, Malina. "Doug Davis Discusses Using Music for a Cause at Variety's Power of Law Event". Variety. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  43. 1 2 Stern, Alix (4 October 2019). "On Again, Off Again, and With a Nudge, Now On Forever". New York Times.
  44. Saval, Malina (18 April 2018). "Music Attorney Doug Davis Combines Career Success With a Passion for Causes". Variety .