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The spirit of Clive Davis was felt at Denise Rich’s annual Gabrielle’s Angel Ball Cipriani Wall St. on Monday night.
Rich’s daughters, Daniella Rich Kilstock and Ilona Rich Schacter, took the stage with their children to honor the event’s namesake, Gabrielle Rich Aouad, their late sister and aunt, who passed away from leukemia thirty years ago.
Rich then honored Angel Ball regular Davis, who died of age-related illness in June, adding a candle to a vigil in his memory.
She asked guests to say a “special payer for my friend Clive Davis, who passed away this year.”
Davis attended Rich’s ball every year with his partner, Greg Schriefer, and pals like Nikki Haskell at his table. This year, Schriefer escorted Haskell through Cipriani to mingle with guests including Lorraine Schwartz and Monte and Angelina Lipman.
Deborah Cox served as the night’s emcee and surprised attendees with a special performance of Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All,” which she dedicated to Davis. An insider described Cox as one of the most gracious hosts at the ball. “She offered to sing and didn’t have to do that. She was so gracious,” they said.
Honoree Dionne Warwick, whose been suffering from mobility issues, sent a video recording explaining, “I’m very, very unhappy that I cannot be with you this evening… I wish I were there with you Denise, when I see you darling, you’re going to get the biggest hug I’ve ever given you,” she said.
Eric Adams was noticeably absent, which had one guest snickering about why he didn’t make it this year. “He’s not mayor anymore,” they said.
Gala chair Tina Knowles also had to skip this year’s gala, but her son-in-law Jay-Z’s Ace of Spades champagne was flowing aplenty. In fact one table full of lushes even tapped Taylor Dayne to grab the bottle from her table after they ran out. Speaking of spirits, “Wonder Woman” Lynda Carter gave a spirited speech that brought the room to their feet, with everyone wanting to snap photos with the 70s icon.
Guest clamored to her table to take photos with her after she honored her husband Robert Altman, who passed away of a rare blood cancer in 2021. Other guests at the ball included Harvey Spevak, Bianca Peters, Ronnie Madra, Charlie Walk, artist Bradley Theordore, Loree Rodkin, Laura Geller, Simone I. Smith, David Hryck, Erika Hammond, Isaac Boots, Kathy Hilton, Steve Gold, Nick Barrotta, Ofira Sandberg, Star Jones, Dr. Stephen D. Nimer, Steve Dann, Tara Rudes Dann, and Nicola Verses, who was also one of the night’s honorees.
The night ended with Dayne and Shaggy taking the stage, and DJ couple M.O.S. and Kiss playing an afterparty. The ball raised over $3 million for cancer research. Jones’ annual paddle raise brought in over $340,000 and auction items like a getaway at Max Tucci’s Tuscan villa fetched for $26,000.