R.I.P. Clive Davis

Music executive, starmaker, and one of the most influential names in music, Clive Davis has passed away at the age of 94 at his home in Manhattan, following a recent hospitalization for respiratory problems, his family has confirmed.

Beginning in the industry as a mid-level legal position at Columbia Records, the Brooklyn native rose to become one of the most important figures behind the scenes in music, helping sign and guide the careers of the likes of Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow and numerous others.

While with Columbia, he also helped propel the careers of Janis Joplin and Blood, Sweat & Tears; then later at Arista and J labels, he succeeded again in helping Houston, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Hudson, with their meteoric rises to fame. He also completely revitalized the careers of legacy artists like Rod Stewart and Carlos Santana for another generation and his last official position was as Chief Creative Officer for Sony Music Entertainment.

As one of the most well-known non-performers, Davis was awarded five Grammy Awards and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Davis was born in 1932 in NY and attended Harvard Law School, starting in the Columbia legal department in 1960 and had no initial musical management intentions, outside of his duties as a lawyer. As part of a record company reorganization in 1965, he was appointed general manger of a division (then became president by 1967) and began developing his notable ‘musical ear’ to help develop talents, while using his analytical skills to study the music charts and learn the makings of a hit record.

He was fired by Columbia in 1973 and had several setbacks, but his now-earned reputation and diligence to bounce back and succeed on his own terms, proved to be an advantage, as he would rebound in his own career, much like he would do for many name artists. Renaming the Bell label to Arista Records in 1974, he quickly gained a number one hit with Barry Manilow’s “Mandy”, with many more successes to follow, including helping create Arista Nashville and then LaFace Records with LA Reid and Babyface, followed by J Records with his sons.

Davis’ memoir, “The Soundtrack of My Life” was published in 2013 (with a resulting documentary in 2017) and he is survived by his three sons, Fred, Mitchell, and Doug, a daughter, Lauren; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his partner, Greg Schriefer.