Overcoming hurdles to step into his new role
Clive Davis tells the story of becoming the Head of Columbia Records and the shock that came with the offer.
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He offered me the head of the musical instrument division, because I was the lawyer and I put together all those deals for Fender guitar, for Leslie speaker, for Steinway piano. But it would mean that I would have to move to L. A. and I was recently divorced and it wouldn’t work with our custody, uh, provision.
So I came in the next morning prepared to Deny the request, even though it was a great offer, economically. I got it said, by the way, overnight, our executive vice president, Norman Adler, really would love to live in La Jolla. So, I’m making him head of the musical instruments group division. And you’ll be the head of Columbia Records.
The head of Columbia Records. It never dawned on me.