Clive Davis, one of the most prominent figures in the world of music across both the 20th and 21st century, has passed away at the age of 94.
Davis’ passing was confirmed in a statement issued by his family, with his longtime rep Aliza Rabinoff adding that he “passed away peacefully from age-related illness” on June 22nd, “surrounded by his family and loved ones”.
“To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives,” Davis’ family wrote. “He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations.”
They added:
To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love. No matter how extraordinary his professional accomplishments, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved.
Through every chapter of his remarkable life, family remained Clive’s greatest pride and deepest joy. Today, we celebrate not only a towering figure whose influence changed music forever, but the man who led our family with grace, generosity, and kindness. We will miss him greatly, cherish him always, and carry his love with us for the rest of our lives.
Davis was born in New York City in 1932, practising as a lawyer before being hired by Columbia Records as as assistant counsel at the age of 28.
In 1966, Davis was appointed head of the newly reorganised CBS Records, going on to sign a number of formative acts such as Donovan, Janis Joplin, Santana, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, and Pink Floyd for international distribution.
Davis was fired by CBS in 1973 over alleged misappropriation of funds, going on to form Arista Records the following year, where he signed myriad artists, including Aretha Franklin, Patti Smith, Kenny G, Dionne Warwick, Ace Of Base, Milli Vanilli, Alicia Keys, and many more.
In 1975, Arista received its first No. 1 hit on the Billboard charts when Barry Manilow’s Mandy (a cover of Scott English’s Brandy) hit the top spot and gave the company a taste of the success to follow.
Arguably one of the biggest successes of Arista’s history was Whitney Houston, with Davis’ signing of the New Jersey musician launching a career which would see record sales in excess of 220 million.
The country arm of the label, Arista Nashville saw the signing of Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, and more; LaFace Records was the home to Outkast, TLC, Usher, and others; while Bad Boy Records was founded alongside Sean Combs, and was the home of acts such as The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, and many others.
In 2000, Davis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as a non-performer, and that same year he won his first Grammy Awards, with his production work on Santana's Supernatural seeing him share in the Album Of The Year and Best Rock Album trophies. Additionally, he shared in Grammys by Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson over the next decade.
After the launch of J Records in 2000, Davis would become President and CEO of the BMG-owned RCA Music Group in 2002, and after the merger of Sony and BMG in 2004, Davis was elevated to the role of Chief Creative Officer at Sony Music Entertainment in 2008 – a role he remained in until his passing.
In 2013, Davis released his autobiography, The Soundtrack Of My Life, which would later be expanded into a documentary of the same name in 2017. Just last month, Davis was reported to be suffering from respiratory issues, and was said to be “recuperating at home” as recently as early this month.
