- Davis was a pioneering record executive who discovered and developed numerous artists throughout his long career
- He faced controversy in his firing from Columbia Records, but went on to found successful labels such as Arista and J Records
- Davis was widely respected in the industry and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000
Legendary music executive and producer Clive Davis has died at the age of 94.
His family confirmed the news New York Times on Monday, June 22. In a statement shared with Rolling Stonehis longtime representative Aliza Rabinoff said Davis “died peacefully of age-related illness” while surrounded by family and loved ones.
Davis was hospitalized in New York City on May 29 and was released on June 4. At the time, a spokesman said People that he was in good spirits and happy to be recovering at home.
Over the years, Davis faced numerous health challenges. In 2021, his annual pre-Grammy gala was postponed after he was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a neurological condition that can cause weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. The disorder is generally treatable, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
A five-time Grammy winner, Davis played a major role at some of the music industry’s biggest companies, including Columbia Records, RCA Music Group and BMG. He launched Arista Records in 1974 and ran the label until 2000 before starting J Records. Davis, often referred to as “the man with the golden ears”, helped discover and develop many artists who became global stars. In 2008, he was appointed chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment.
Davis was born on April 4, 1932, and grew up in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. He attended New York University on scholarship and later won a place at Harvard Law School. talking with People in 2022 he recalled that scholarships made his education possible.
In his autobiography, Davis described himself as “a hard-working Jewish boy from Brooklyn” driven by ambition and determination. According to Vanity Fairhe experienced significant personal loss while attending NYU when both of his parents died within a year of each other.
Davis joined Columbia Records as the company’s general counsel before becoming president in 1967. During his time there, he signed major acts such as Janis Joplin, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & Fire. His tenure ended in 1973 when he was dismissed amid allegations that he had misused company funds, allegations he consistently denied.
Reflecting on the controversy during a 2013 appearance on 92NY, Davis described the experience as deeply painful. He said a company employee had signed invoices fraudulently and later went to jail. According to Davis, some invoices were improperly linked to him, including a long-circulated claim that he tried to invoice the company for his son’s bar mitzvah, which he insisted was untrue.
Davis also maintained that CBS, which owned Columbia Records at the time, knew the allegations against him were false. He believed he was made a scapegoat after the fired employee alleged widespread payola practices within the company and the wider music industry.
Just a year after leaving Columbia, Davis launched Arista Records in partnership with Columbia Pictures in November 1974. Over the next several decades, he helped shape the careers of artists such as Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Whitney Houston and Alan Jackson. He also played a key role in the comeback success of artists including Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin and Carlos Santana.
In 1989 he teamed up with LA Reid and Babyface to establish LaFace Records, signing acts such as TLC, Toni Braxton and Pink. Five years later, he teamed up with Sean Combs in a joint venture that resulted in Bad Boy Records, one of the most successful hip-hop labels of the 1990s. The label’s roster included The Notorious BIG, Faith Evans, Mase, 112 and Combs himself.
In 2000, Davis became the first non-performer to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, he launched J Records, which would go on to sign artists including Alicia Keys.
Davis is survived by his four children: Doug, Mitchell, Lauren and Fred Davis.
