Clive Davis on Aretha Franklin: “She was really a national treasure to generally be cherished by every generation in the world”

Clive Davis has posted a communication on Twitter about Aretha Franklin.

He wrote: “I’m absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing. She was truly extraordinary. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She would be a national treasure to generally be cherished by every generation throughout the world. Above and beyond our long professional relationship, Aretha was my best mate. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is filled with sadness.”

In 1980, when Atlantic Records dropped Aretha after 13 glorious years, Davis swooped in and signed her to Arista Records. In short order, Arista re-established Aretha’s legacy with hits like “Jimmy Lee,” “Jump to barefoot jogging,” “Freeway of Love,” and so on. Their association was a 38 year friendship, a proper relationship that spilled over to social events also.