When legendary music exec Clive Davis passed away at 94, his New York City funeral was packed with the kind of star power he helped create: Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder. You know, the usual suspects when a titan of the industry bids adieu.
One person notably absent? Paul Simon. A close friend of Davis, Simon couldn't make it. But he sent a letter, later obtained by Today, that managed to be both heart-wrenching and perfectly, wryly Simon.
The Empty Seat, Dead Center
Clive's son, Doug Davis, spoke at the funeral, revealing that his father's passing had a surprising side effect: it reconnected him with Simon after 40 years. "I hadn’t spoken to Paul in 40 years," Doug shared. "He and I have been able to speak every day this past week to reminisce and for me to receive some needed paternal advice and love."
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxDoug also dropped a delightful, slightly embarrassing childhood confession. He finally got to tell Simon, "when I was kid, he was just Harper’s dad. I had no idea the whole time he was Paul Simon." Imagine thinking the guy who wrote 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' was just... a dad. Kids, right?
But it was Simon's tribute to his friend that truly landed. He recounted a recent request from Clive: six seats to an upcoming concert at Forest Hills tennis stadium. The kicker? They had to be "dead center in the 10th row." A man knew what he wanted, even at 94.
Simon's closing thought, however, is the one that'll stick with you: "When I play that night I’ll be singing for everyone, but in my heart I’ll be dedicating the night to the man in the empty seat, dead center in the 10th row."
Because some friendships, like some songs, just resonate a little differently when there’s a quiet space left just for them.
