Building an Empire
His protégée Laura Nyro had three Top 10 smashes in a row, adding value to her Tuna Fish Music catalogue. In late 1969, Columbia’s Clive Davis took over the novice company for over $3 million. By this point, everyone wanted Geffen to represent them. He bought a home above Sunset on Alto Cedro Drive, making a nice spot for himself in Laurel Canyon.
David Geffen and Laura Nyro circa 1969. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Geffen became a regular at the Troubadour, and people nearly worshipped him. With their nearby offices on Sunset Boulevard (once the base for Phil Spector), Geffen and Roberts started building their musical empire, with no remorse and all the while keeping a low-key vibe.