--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My years with Aretha Franklin have been…" description: "\"My years with Aretha Franklin have been very special, as were the years making records with Dionne Warwick. Other highlights include working with Janis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/clive-davis-15821_aretha_my-years-with-aretha-franklin-have-been_910918.jpg" --- # My years with Aretha Franklin have been very special, as… ![“My years with Aretha Franklin have been very special, as were the years making records with Dionne Warwick. Other highlights include working with Janis Joplin, who was the first artist I ever signed, as well as Patti Smith and Alicia Keys.” quote by Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/clive-davis-15821_aretha_my-years-with-aretha-franklin-have-been_910918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/clive-davis-15821_aretha_my-years-with-aretha-franklin-have-been_910918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/clive-davis-15821_aretha_my-years-with-aretha-franklin-have-been_910918.jpg) > “My years with Aretha Franklin have been very special, as were the years making records with Dionne Warwick. Other highlights include working with Janis Joplin, who was the first artist I ever signed, as well as Patti Smith and Alicia Keys.” [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collaborating with iconic artists shaped a unique career narrative **In simple terms:** Working with legends enriches professional legacy Key Takeaway Value mentorship and diverse collaborations Themes career music industry legacy Mood nostalgic proud Type biographical inspirational When to use this quote - record production - artist development - industry conferences - personal branding Key Concepts networking creative synergy Questions to Reflect On - What lessons did you learn from each artist? - How can emerging talent emulate such collaborations? A Different Perspective Reliance on famous names may eclipse personal contributions ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aretha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aretha/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ## Related quotes > [I have total respect for the self-contained rock artist. Whether you're dealing with Jerry Garcia or Lou Reed or Patti Smith or a Whitney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-have-total-respect-for-the-self-contained-rock-artist-whether-you/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [My introduction of Whitney was that if there's going to be one performer for the next generation who combined the beauty and lyric phrasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/my-introduction-of-whitney-was-that-if-there-s-going-to-be-one/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [Especially as an artist who has been signed to one of the majors throughout my last ten years, you don't always get to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kreesha-turner/especially-as-an-artist-who-has-been-signed-to-one-of-the-majors/) [Kreesha Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kreesha-turner/) > [I was in a situation where I was a West Coast artist signed to an East Coast label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yg/i-was-in-a-situation-where-i-was-a-west-coast-artist-signed-to-an/) YG > [I'm actually 100% independent. I'm not a Universal artist. I'm signed to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-m-actually-100-independent-i-m-not-a-universal-artist-i-m-signed-to/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [You don't have favorites among your offspring, and you don't among the artists you're involved with, but clearly among my most favorite was Patti…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-don-t-have-favorites-among-your-offspring-and-you-don-t-among-the/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [If you think about it, Aretha did basically the same things that I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peabo-bryson/if-you-think-about-it-aretha-did-basically-the-same-things-that-i-do/) [Peabo Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peabo-bryson/) > [Aretha Franklin is and will always be a national treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/aretha-franklin-is-and-will-always-be-a-national-treasure/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I am in love with old school funk and soul music. That's what I grew up listening to, and I want to bring that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raini-rodriguez/i-am-in-love-with-old-school-funk-and-soul-music-that-s-what-i-grew/) [Raini Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raini-rodriguez/) > [You knew the difference between Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, straight away. Now everyone sounds like each other, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-womack/you-knew-the-difference-between-barbra-streisand-and-aretha-franklin/) [Bobby Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-womack/) > [As a kid, I was listening to Aretha Franklin, Etta James and hip-hop as well as music my parents were listening to, like Joni…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/as-a-kid-i-was-listening-to-aretha-franklin-etta-james-and-hip-hop-as/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I'm probably the only one in the world you can name that's worked with Billie Holiday, Louie Armstrong, Ella, Duke, Miles, Dizzy, Ray Charles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-m-probably-the-only-one-in-the-world-you-can-name-that-s-worked/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [To me, R&B means Aretha Franklin, who is otherworldly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/to-me-r-b-means-aretha-franklin-who-is-otherworldly/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [Aretha Franklin, first and foremost... That's my top girl there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-holliday/aretha-franklin-first-and-foremost-that-s-my-top-girl-there/) [Jennifer Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-holliday/) > [I'm telling the story, and if I can't tell the story, I'm not going to sing it. And if I don't agree with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-jones/i-m-telling-the-story-and-if-i-can-t-tell-the-story-i-m-not-going-to/) [Sharon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-jones/) ## More by Clive Davis > [You see the genius that Whitney Houston has as an interpreter of material, and you realize why genius can be applied to only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-see-the-genius-that-whitney-houston-has-as-an-interpreter-of/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [The subject of bisexuality really needs much more discussion. It's a status that does exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/the-subject-of-bisexuality-really-needs-much-more-discussion-it-s-a/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [I would say, from an all-around point of view, Bruce Springsteen is one of the two great poet lords of America, Bob Dylan, coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-would-say-from-an-all-around-point-of-view-bruce-springsteen-is-one/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [I feel that contemporary music, with very few exceptions, is missing the voice. You see an award show, you see a hundred extras on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-feel-that-contemporary-music-with-very-few-exceptions-is-missing/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [It is only occasional that talent becomes genius - radiating sparks, brilliance, energy, and charismatic magnetism... such a talent was Janis Joplin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/it-is-only-occasional-that-talent-becomes-genius-radiating-sparks/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [This group came on stage, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and this whirling dervish, this electrifying white soul singer was so riveting. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/this-group-came-on-stage-big-brother-and-the-holding-company-and-this/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [My 'act' was schoolwork. I was your basic, garden-variety, ambitious, upwardly mobile, hard-working Jewish boy from Brooklyn. I was bound to go beyond my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/my-act-was-schoolwork-i-was-your-basic-garden-variety-ambitious/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [The subject of bisexuality really needs much more discussion. Its a status that does exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/the-subject-of-bisexuality-really-needs-much-more-discussion-its-a/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [Having lost both my parents as a teenager, family is so important to me, and I cherish my time with my children and grandchildren.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/having-lost-both-my-parents-as-a-teenager-family-is-so-important-to/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [I play no instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-play-no-instruments/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [There's no way that music could ever go down the tubes. I can't imagine a civilization without music. When you realize today that music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/there-s-no-way-that-music-could-ever-go-down-the-tubes-i-can-t/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [I feel blessed that I found not just a profession, but a 24/7 way of life that I purely love. That curiosity to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-feel-blessed-that-i-found-not-just-a-profession-but-a-24-7-way-of/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [I never stopped being attracted to women. Bisexuality is misunderstood; the adage is that you're either straight or gay or lying, but that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-never-stopped-being-attracted-to-women-bisexuality-is-misunderstood/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [Watching artists like Joplin perform, I felt that tingle down my spine; I experienced the wonders of a cultural and musical revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/watching-artists-like-joplin-perform-i-felt-that-tingle-down-my-spine/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [It's not for me to determine what a country artist has in common with a hip-hop artist. You go for those with long-lasting careers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/it-s-not-for-me-to-determine-what-a-country-artist-has-in-common-with/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) [Explore all 42 Clive Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) ## More Aretha quotes > [I'm telling the story, and if I can't tell the story, I'm not going to sing it. And if I don't agree with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-jones/i-m-telling-the-story-and-if-i-can-t-tell-the-story-i-m-not-going-to/) [Sharon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-jones/) > [Aretha Franklin, first and foremost... That's my top girl there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-holliday/aretha-franklin-first-and-foremost-that-s-my-top-girl-there/) [Jennifer Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-holliday/) > [To me, R&B means Aretha Franklin, who is otherworldly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/to-me-r-b-means-aretha-franklin-who-is-otherworldly/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I'm probably the only one in the world you can name that's worked with Billie Holiday, Louie Armstrong, Ella, Duke, Miles, Dizzy, Ray Charles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-m-probably-the-only-one-in-the-world-you-can-name-that-s-worked/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [As a kid, I was listening to Aretha Franklin, Etta James and hip-hop as well as music my parents were listening to, like Joni…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/as-a-kid-i-was-listening-to-aretha-franklin-etta-james-and-hip-hop-as/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [You knew the difference between Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, straight away. Now everyone sounds like each other, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-womack/you-knew-the-difference-between-barbra-streisand-and-aretha-franklin/) [Bobby Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-womack/) > [I am in love with old school funk and soul music. That's what I grew up listening to, and I want to bring that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raini-rodriguez/i-am-in-love-with-old-school-funk-and-soul-music-that-s-what-i-grew/) [Raini Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raini-rodriguez/) > [Aretha Franklin is and will always be a national treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/aretha-franklin-is-and-will-always-be-a-national-treasure/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [If you think about it, Aretha did basically the same things that I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peabo-bryson/if-you-think-about-it-aretha-did-basically-the-same-things-that-i-do/) [Peabo Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peabo-bryson/) > [I think the most-played record in our house was the 'Big Chill' Soundtrack - so Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, Otis Redding. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/i-think-the-most-played-record-in-our-house-was-the-big-chill/) [Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/) > [My introduction of Whitney was that if there's going to be one performer for the next generation who combined the beauty and lyric phrasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/my-introduction-of-whitney-was-that-if-there-s-going-to-be-one/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [I have total respect for the self-contained rock artist. Whether you're dealing with Jerry Garcia or Lou Reed or Patti Smith or a Whitney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-have-total-respect-for-the-self-contained-rock-artist-whether-you/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) [Browse all 13 Aretha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aretha/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My years with Aretha Franklin have been very special, as were the years making records with Dionne Warwick. 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