Clive Davis, the legendary music producer of industry icons from Janis Joplin and Whitney Houston to Billy Joel and Santana, has died.
Davis, famously dubbed “the man with the golden ears,” was 94. His household confirmed his demise in a social media post. His publicist additionally confirmed his demise to NCS.
Davis’s household remembered him as each “a towering figure whose influence changed music forever” in addition to “the man who led our family with grace, generosity, and kindness.”
He was hospitalized in late May for an higher respiratory concern, Rolling Stone reported, however was discharged earlier this month.
The Brooklyn-born Davis by no means supposed to guide a life in music, not to mention form popular culture’s musical tastes for many years. After his mother and father died in his late teenagers, he graduated from Harvard Law School and have become a lawyer earlier than going to work for Columbia Records in 1960. Five years later, Davis had ascended to be the record label’s prime lawyer and was quickly named Columbia’s president.
“I was thrust into it,” he instructed NCS in 2013. “Never knowing I had a natural ear and gift for music that,” he mentioned, “would become the passion of my life.”
One-on-one with Clive Davis
Davis’ first main signing was Janis Joplin, whom he first noticed carry out at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. In his 2013 memoir “The Soundtrack of my Life,” Davis described Joplin’s stage presence as “not conventionally beautiful,” however “her body seemed to vibrate with the modulations of her voice, which struck with equal impact whether she was wailing at the top of her lungs or delivering an intimate whisper.”
His intuition for expertise led Davis to find and signal eventual megastars like Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, Aerosmith and Barry Manilow.
In a tribute posted to social media on Monday, Springsteen honored his “close friend,” who he mentioned modified his life when the producer signed him to Columbia in his early 20s.
“He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success,” Springsteen wrote. “A great man.”
Kenny G displays on the life and legacy of music mogul Clive Davis
Billy Joel was floundering as a recording artist when Davis signed him in 1973. “Piano Man” was Joel’s first album at Columbia and paved his approach to superstardom.
“When they all hit, one after another and I was there, making that judgment… it obviously gave me confidence to keep going,” Davis mentioned.
The Nineteen Eighties introduced maybe Davis’ most storied discovery: 19-year-old pop sensation Whitney Houston. Their collaboration led to a record-setting seven consecutive No. 1 singles, together with “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.”
Houston’s drug-related demise in 2012 led to one in all Davis’ best heartbreaks. The 48-year-old died in her Beverly Hills lodge room the night time of Davis’ famed pre-Grammy gala. He instructed NCS he had seen Houston simply two days earlier than and the pair had deliberate to discover new music.
“She was vital, optimistic, looking forward to the future,” Davis mentioned in 2024.
If Davis didn’t uncover a star, there was a superb probability he nurtured them alongside the best way. Simon and Garfunkel, The Grateful Dead, Dionne Warwick, Miles Davis, Rod Stewart and Luther Vandross all crossed his path.
When Aretha Franklin’s profession stalled in later years, Davis contemporized her type. In 1987, Franklin went to primary on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with “I Knew You were Waiting (For Me),” a duet with George Michael that marked her first primary hit since 1967’s “Respect.”
The accolades didn’t come with out struggles. Davis was pushed out of Columbia Records in 1973 over accusations he used firm funds for private makes use of. He later mentioned in his memoir that the bills had been all the time meant to be reimbursed. The scandal got here at the identical time as a federal investigation of alleged “payola” at Columbia, of which Davis was cleared, however he was nonetheless charged with tax evasion on unreimbursed bills. Five of the six prices had been later dropped.
“This virtually complete exoneration received nothing like the coverage of all the baseless charges, rumors, and guilt-by-association whispers that I had lived with since leaving Columbia,” Davis wrote in 2013.
He responded by beginning Arista Records and persevering with his unprecedented sizzling streak. Later, in 1989, Arista expanded into nation music and struck large with Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn.
“You’ve got to be a survivor,” Davis as soon as mentioned of present enterprise. “You’ve got to rise above cold periods, you’ve got to come back.”
Davis himself received 4 Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. That identical yr he fashioned J Records and launched the profession of Alicia Keys, whose debut album “Songs In A Minor” bought greater than 10 million copies and received her 5 Grammy Awards.
Davis expanded into hip-hop within the ’90s, partially buying Sean Combs’ label Bad Boy Records, which spawned monumental hits from Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans and others.
Davis’ relationship with Combs was the topic of scrutiny in his later years. Combs was found guilty of transportation to have interaction in prostitution in a 2025 federal trial and never responsible of extra severe prices, together with intercourse trafficking.
Davis married twice and had 4 kids. In his 2013 ebook, he revealed he was bisexual, telling NCS he solely explored this after the failure of his second marriage.
“I opened myself up to the possibility of having a relationship with a person, rather than a gender,” he mentioned.
Davis continued to be lively in music till the tip of his life, persevering with to host his yearly pre-Grammy occasion the night time earlier than the ceremony and holding the title of chief artistic officer at Sony Music.
In an announcement on Monday, the label paid tribute to Davis, who it mentioned was “responsible for a huge part of the recorded legacy of the company.”
“Not only are many, many artists we represent continuously indebted to his service but so many staff members have been influenced and mentored by his deep love and respect for our company which he carried right up until today,” the assertion learn.
But these “golden ears” are what Davis will most be remembered for, even when he believed that merely recognizing alternative was the true secret to his success.
“I’m not being modest, it was luck that I got the opportunity,” he mentioned. “I think life is seizing those opportunities.”
This story has been up to date with further data.