No praises sung here

IT’S surprising to me that a man of Robert Hilburn’s judgment should buy into the alleged genius of Clive Davis [“Hands On, Hands Off,” Jan. 14]. Yes, Bruce Springsteen, doubtlessly the most important pop-music figure since the Beatles, was signed to Columbia Records by Davis, but it was the important talent scout John Hammond who brought him to the label.

Yes, Davis has picked significant material for several important pop artists, but this is forgetting that managers and record producers in many cases had an important say in suggesting material for these artists. This fact somehow has been overlooked for too many years.

The media also have completely wiped the slate concerning the travesty of Milli Vanilli. Why have the media completely forgotten this matter? It was Davis who brought this talentless duo to the forefront and was entirely responsible for their success. When it was revealed that they did not even sing on their records, Davis acted puzzled and bewildered. The man responsible for this hoax was Clive Davis. Let’s get the record straight on this man.

PETER LEVINSON

Malibu