“One Man’s Opinion” by Gordon Curvey

Ladies and gentlemen I have been very lucky in the more than 36 years that I have been in broadcasting. I have interviewed legend after legend after legend. Met and interviewed James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Dionne Warwick, Run DMC, Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson, Shaq, Charcles Barkley, E-40, Ice Cube, DJ Quik, Salt N Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, Oprah, Michael Jordan and more!! Very very lucky and that is for sure.  Lost most of the interviews though I lost in a terrible fire I had in 2004 here in Seattle.

But still, god is good. I have also been lucky enough to be able to be on the red carpet at a lot of major events. Like the American Music Awards, BET Awards and the ESPYs. And the legendary Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party in Los Angeles. In 2012 myself and my good friend Tammy Jackson-Cloy traveled from Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles to be on the red carpet at the legendary Davis Grammy Party at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Of course that is the place to be  during Grammys week in the L.A. area.

So I was at my motel just relaxing getting everything together as to what I was going to wear on the red carpet. Just relaxing and getting ready to watch some TV. Then my phone rang. And it was Tammy. She said “G have you heard what happened? I said no what happened. She said “Whitney Houston was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton!” I said NO WAY TAMMY!! I then turned on my TV and BAM!! BREAKING NEWS!!! Whitney Houston was found dead!!! In the place that the Clive Davis Party was suppose to be!! WOW!!!

So I got ready that night, made sure my camera and tripod was ready to go and Tammy drove and picked me up and as we got near the Beverly Hilton we saw a HUGE crowd of folks and Los Angeles area TV and radio and other news crews was in front of the Hilton. Word spread BIG TIME that the icon Whitney Houston, who Clive Davis made famous was dead. Her body was STILL UPSTAIRS in her room.  So Tammy and I found a place to park and we got to our spot on the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton to interview entertainers about how they feel about the death of Houston.

UNREAL ladies and gentlemen!! Something I will NEVER EVER FORGET!! Clive Davis was a entertainment icon. But to my surprise, since he has passed at the age of 94, there are some who did not like Davis to well. And they are speaking up about it too. Clive of course helped Whitney but also the late Aretha Franklin, Usher and other major performers. And his Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party was to place to be seen and major performers, got on stage and threw down!! Since he is no longer with us, I wonder who will take over the party? His son maybe.

The year before, Tammy and I also attended the Davis event. And Houston performed. And she looked good and put on a great performance. Whitney had put back some of the pounds she lost because of her drug habit. But as we know, Whitney could not shake her cocaine addiction. A truly sad story. So rest in peace to Clive Davis. It is sad certain performers want to go public and talk negative about Mr. Davis after he has died. I do not know about you, but I think that is TERRIBLE!!