Stars front and center for behind-the-scenes legend

If a man is judged by the company he keeps, let us pause for a moment to consider Clive Davis’ Rolodex. The guests at his 30th annual pre-Grammy party Tuesday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, a clubby clique of his pals to hear him tell it, suggested Davis might be the most connected man in show business.

His event drew a breathtaking number -- and array -- of boldfaced music names, record-label suits, actors, athletes and media honchos. Guests included Quincy Jones, “American Idol” runner-up Bo Bice, Ashlee Simpson, Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Jay-Z, the Dixie Chicks, chef to the stars Wolfgang Puck, former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield and TV late-night host Jimmy Kimmel (just to name a few). As they came off the hotel’s red carpet, Davis gave well-wishers, male and female alike, hearty kisses on both cheeks.

The celebrity bottleneck became intense. Who’s that guy with the spiky hair being hustled backstage by a team of linebacker-sized bodyguards? Barry Manilow, of course.

And whose raspy falsetto do you hear trailing toward the men’s room? Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, naturally.

And look at that mane of auburn hair. It’s Beyonce!

Introducing Davis, the visionary Columbia, Arista and J Records exec and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Island Def Jam Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid articulated what had drawn them all there.

“Clive Davis is a song’s best friend,” said Reid, one of many who got his big break in the industry from Davis. “This is a record man’s record man. His career never seems to stop.”

Then Rod Stewart launched the musical part of the party. He was followed by short sets from Kelly Clarkson and R&B; singers Chris Brown and Heather Headley. Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas ran through their Davis-engineered hit “Smooth.” And Manilow performed “Unchained Melody” from his new Davis co-produced album, “The Greatest Songs of the Fifties.”

Jamie Foxx, whose J Records album “Unpredictable” hit No. 1, took the stage for a freewheeling set that included an impromptu duet with “American Idol” alumna Fantasia Barino, an onstage reunion of ‘90s R&B; group Jodeci and a performance of “Gold Digger,” for which Kanye West joined Foxx.

The night’s scheduled headliner, Mary J. Blige, never showed -- Davis said her Grammy show rehearsal had run long -- and a tribute to Luther Vandross was handed off to Barino, but not before Davis entreated his guests, “Any great singers in the audience, please come up! Natalie Cole? Alicia? Diana Ross?”

But by then, it was 1 a.m. and the limo line was forming.