Gilbert Davison

Gilbert Davison (b. June 1963) is an American artist manager and consultant based in Excelsior, Minnesota; married to Constance Guzman (b. 1957), father of singer-songwriter Mychael "Gabriel" Davison (b. 1986). He is primarily known as Prince's head of security in the mid-1980s and ex-president of Paisley Park Enterprises (1990–94). Davison was the proprietor of Glam Slam, Minneapolis club and left Prince's camp after a fallout over its ownership. In recent years, Gilbert Davison has managed Sheila E. and serves as L4OA Charities executive director. In 1984, Gilbert joined the PRN Productions security team with his friend Harlan "Hucky" Austin, working the Purple Rain Tour under Chick Huntsberry. He was soon promoted to head of security, responsible for Prince's protection on all subsequent concert tours between 1986 and 1990, from Parade to Nude, as well as Under The Cherry Moon and Graffiti Bridge film sets. They established a close relationship, as Davison became the personal driver and right-hand assistant. Prince mentioned him in lyrics, such as I Wish U Heaven (Part 1, 2 & 3) and Movie Star, and publicly referred to Gilbert as "friend" on several occasions (in Sign "☮" The Times thank you credits, for instance, or the Rolling Stone's cover story). In March 1990, Gilbert Davison registered Heaven & Earth, Inc. to procure a new nightclub in downtown Minneapolis. The corporation was owned 90% by Gilbert Davison and 10% by Ruth Whitney Bowe. Paisley Park Enterprises financed the construction at almost $2 million. Glam Slam opened in October 1990, lavishly decorated with Prince memorabilia, including guitars and stage decorations, and graffiti by Prince's art director J.C. Munson. It was promptly featured in Graffiti Bridge film, and Prince played dozens of concerts and filmed several music videos at Glam Slam, including My Name Is Prince. In December 1990, Prince surprisingly promoted Gilbert Davison to President of Paisley Park Enterprises Inc., while publicist Jill Willis became Vice President. The bizarre appointment followed a chain of questionable personnel changes, as Prince simultaneously fired Arnold Stiefel and Randy Phillips and decided to self-manage. (The Stiefel Phillips Entertainment, renowned Rod Stewart's managers, came on board in November 1989 to produce Graffiti Bridge film. They replaced Albert Magnoli, who, in turn, only lasted for ten months after Prince fired his entire back office: managers Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli, accountant Fred Moultrie, and attorneys Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips). In his new executive role, Gilbert Davison participated in the Diamonds and Pearls and Act I & II tours and produced the Love Symbol Interactive videogame. In October 1994, shortly after filming the Get Wild promo video at Glam Slam (in his brand-new "secret" Tora Tora disguise), Prince had a massive fallout with Davison. They've been repeatedly clashing over financial matters, with the club and the "Glam Slam" trademark wholly owned by Gilbert Davison (since Ruth Bowe sold her 10% stake and left in 1993). It was even public knowledge that Prince "had no financial interest" in Heaven & Earth Inc., as reported in the St. Paul Pioneer Press exposé "Purple Drain." The venue was stripped of all memorabilia, and Prince never returned, filming promos for the next two singles from The NPG's Exodus album at a recently launched Glam Slam, Miami. The same month, Gilbert Davison resigned from Paisley Park (replaced by Prince's stepbrother and head of security, Duane Nelson). He soon reopened the club under a new name, The Quest. They never communicated with Prince again, who notably estranged and barred Sheila E. from entering Paisley Park Studios after she performed at Gilbert's club just once in December 1997. The Quest functioned for several years, closed after a fire in 2006; Heaven & Earth Inc. dissolved two years later. In subsequent years, Davison continued to manage Sheila E., announcing in April 2016 their plans to organize a memorial concert at U.S. Bank Stadium. In August, Prince's sister Tyka Nelson invited Davison to family memorial services, and he began appearing in the press; Star Tribune wrote in October 2016 that Gilbert allegedly "helped set the direction for the family" before The Prince Estate took over. Subsequently, he became an executive director of Love 4 One Another Charities (established in November 1996 by Prince and his wife, Mayte García, and relaunched by her in February 2019 with Tyka and Kirk Johnson).