Legendary Music Executive Clive Davis Dies at 94
Davis was essential in building the careers of Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, and dozens more notable artists.
Clive Davis, veteran music executive, has died at the age of 94. Throughout his career of over six decades, he led numerous influential companies, including Columbia Records and Arista Records, while shepherding iconic artists such as Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Santana, and Alicia Keys.
Career highlights:
Davis won five GRAMMYs.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 2000.
He was President of Columbia Records from 1967 to 1973.
He founded Arista Records in 1974.
Arista’s roster included the Grateful Dead, Whitney Houston, and The Notorious B.I.G.
Davis's final position was Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainment.
What they said:
President Barack Obama via video at Davis’s GRAMMY party: “Most people don’t realize how much the music they love was shaped by one man.”
Davis, via his memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life: “What is patently clear is that openness in all areas of life is an important component of happiness and success.”
👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block
Quotes for this piece were sourced from the New York Times.
We covered it because Davis is a pivotal figure in music.
