NEW YORK (WDNews) — Clive Davis, the record company lawyer who became one of the most influential figures in the music industry, has died at the age of 94.
Davis died Monday at his Manhattan apartment, according to his publicist, Aliza Rabinoff, who confirmed the death and shared a statement from his family. Earlier this year, Davis was hospitalized due to an upper respiratory infection and was released several days later. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
“To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives. He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations,” the family said in a statement.
Over a career that spanned more than six decades, Davis helped launch, develop or revive the careers of some of the biggest names in music, including Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Aerosmith and Rod Stewart. He earned a reputation as “the man with the golden ear” for his ability to identify talent and guide artists to commercial success.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1932, Davis graduated from Harvard Law School before joining Columbia Records as an attorney in 1960. He later rose to become president of the label, where he played a key role in embracing the growing rock music movement of the late 1960s.
After leaving Columbia Records in 1973, Davis founded Arista Records, where he discovered Whitney Houston and helped transform her into one of the best-selling artists of all time. He later founded J Records, where he helped launch the career of Alicia Keys and worked with artists including Luther Vandross.
Davis remained active in the music industry well into his 90s. He served as chief creative officer for Sony Music Entertainment beginning in 2018 and continued to be a respected voice in artist development and music production.
Throughout his career, Davis received five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 as a non-performer. He also established the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University, helping educate future generations of music industry professionals.
