Clive Davis, the influential record executive and four-time Grammy-winning producer credited with shaping the careers of numerous music superstars, has died at the age of 94. His family confirmed his death, as reported by The New York Times. Davis had been hospitalized in May due to a respiratory infection.
Born in Brooklyn, Davis built a career spanning nearly six decades, from his early days as a lawyer to becoming one of the music industry's most powerful figures. He earned the nickname "the man with golden ears" for his talent in identifying and developing unknown artists into household names. His hands-on approach to nurturing talent, refining sound and image, and guiding careers became an industry standard.
Davis' career began in the 1960s at Columbia Records, where he rose to president at age 35. During his tenure, he signed and championed artists such as Carlos Santana, Chicago, and Billy Joel, and brought acts like Neil Diamond, Pink Floyd, and Herbie Hancock to the label. Following his departure from Columbia in the mid-1970s, Davis founded Arista Records. Under his leadership, Arista became home to stars like Whitney Houston, Hall & Oates, and The Grateful Dead.
Davis continued to be a major force in the music industry through ventures like founding J Records and co-founding LaFace Records with L.A. Reid and Babyface, which launched the careers of artists such as TLC, Toni Braxton, and Usher. He also served as chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment.
His extensive work covered genres including rock, R&B, pop, hip-hop, and country. Aretha Franklin, who signed with Arista in 1980, once called Davis "the greatest record man of all time."
In recognition of his impact, Davis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, the only non-performer inducted that year. He also won two Grammy Awards for his work on Santana's "Supernatural."
Beyond his professional achievements, Davis was dedicated to music education. In 2002, he donated $5 million to New York University to establish the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. He received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree from the university in 2011.
Davis released his memoir, "The Soundtrack of My Life," in 2013, and his life and career were the subject of the 2017 documentary "Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives."
He remained passionate about music throughout his life, stating in a 2013 interview with NPR that he could "never" get enough of the business and found fulfillment in extending the careers of iconic artists. He is survived by his sons, Doug, Fred, and Mitchell, and his daughter, Lauren.