Clive Davis, the music mogul who became one of the most influential figures in popular music, died Monday in Manhattan. He was 94 years old.
The four-time Grammy Award-winning producer “passed away peacefully from age-related illness… surrounded by his family and loved ones,” his longtime publicist Aliza Rabinoff confirmed to Rolling Stone. He had been recently hospitalized for an upper respiratory infection.
Over a career spanning six decades, Davis, who was born in New York City in 1932, played a major role in shaping the sound of rock, folk, R&B and hip-hop. Artists immortalized him in their song lyrics. He was also one of the few industry executives who was considered as much of a star as some of the talent he signed.
Although Davis began at Columbia Records as assistant counsel, he became a label executive in 1965. Among the earliest acts he signed were Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire.
In 1974, Davis founded Arista Records, signing Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Patti Smith, Barry Manilow, and many others to its roster. He left Arista in 2000 to form J Records and released Alicia Keys’ debut album, “Songs in A Minor,” which went multi-platinum, before BMG bought a majority stake in 2022. Davis also co-founded LaFace Records with L.A. Reid and Babyface and Bad Boy Records with Sean “Diddy” Combs.
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Davis’ greatest discovery may have been Whitney Houston, whom he mentored to become one of the biggest-selling artists in pop music history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
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