Clive Davis, the legendary record executive who discovered and promoted Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin, and Barry Manilow, has died aged 94. He was one of the most powerful and controversial figures in the American recording industry, known for his ruthless business acumen and an almost supernatural gift for spotting talent.
Early life and entry into the music business
Davis was born into a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, on April 4, 1932, the son of Florence and Herman. He grew up in the Crown Heights district and won scholarships to New York University and Harvard Law School, graduating in 1956. After practicing law with a small New York firm, he moved to Rosenman, Colin, Freund Lewis & Cohen, which had CBS records as a client.
At age 28, Davis was hired as assistant counsel to Columbia Records, a CBS subsidiary, and became a protege of CBS president Goddard Lieberson. One of his first successes was renegotiating Bob Dylan's contract. Under Lieberson's tutelage, Davis discovered his passion for music and worked his way up, becoming president of Columbia Records in 1967. The company had been lagging behind competitors, but Davis saw the potential of rock music.
Rise to power at Columbia Records
Davis's first signing in 1966 was Scottish folk-rock singer Donovan, who delivered the chart-topping hit "Sunshine Superman." In 1967, he attended the Monterey Pop Festival and signed Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company, calling that festival "the creative turning point in my life."
At Columbia, Davis acquired a remarkable roster of top-selling acts, including Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, Earth Wind & Fire, Aerosmith, Laura Nyro, and Billy Joel. He insisted on releasing Lynn Anderson's "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden" as a single, making it an international smash in 1970. In 1972, he signed Bruce Springsteen despite skepticism from colleagues, and The New York Times magazine called him "the most powerful man in the recording industry."
Scandal and comeback with Arista Records
In 1973, Davis was ousted from Columbia after an underling was investigated for alleged mafia connections and made bogus expense claims. Davis was fired for using CBS funds to pay for his son's bar mitzvah, pleaded guilty to tax evasion, and paid a $10,000 fine. He maintained that the reason was an excuse and that he was a victim of personality conflicts.
After writing his autobiography "Clive: Inside the Record Business" (1975), Davis was recruited in 1974 by Columbia Pictures to head its record operations, which he merged into a new label, Arista. The roster included Barry Manilow and the Bay City Rollers. Davis insisted Manilow record "Mandy," giving him his breakthrough hit in 1974. Manilow said Davis "has the mind of an executive and the ears of a teenager."
In 1975, Arista released Patti Smith's "Horses," gaining alternative-rock credibility. The label later enjoyed success with Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Lou Reed, Kenny G, and the Grateful Dead. Arista's Nashville division, launched in 1988, produced country hits by Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn.
Whitney Houston and peak success
Davis's discovery and promotion of Whitney Houston cemented his reputation. Her 1985 debut album, carefully nurtured by Davis, became the bestselling debut by any female artist at that time. Houston achieved colossal international success and opened doors for many African-American artists.
In 1980, Davis sold Arista to Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) but remained president. He admitted he "never got rap music" but recognized its commercial power, forming LaFace Records with LA Reid and Babyface in 1989, which produced TLC, Toni Braxton, OutKast, and Pink. He also launched Bad Boy Records with Sean Combs, which sold over 12 million albums within three years with acts including Notorious BIG and Faith Evans.
Even the Milli Vanilli scandal in 1990 did not dent Arista's momentum. Davis and his executives insisted they had no knowledge of the deception and dropped the act.
Later career and legacy
In 1999, Davis reunited with Carlos Santana, whom he had signed to Columbia in the 1960s. Santana's album "Supernatural" featured Latin, jazz, and hip-hop styles with guest artists, sold 26 million copies, and won nine Grammy awards, including one for Davis as producer.
In 2000, BMG replaced Davis as Arista president, ironically the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the Grammy Trustees Award. After public support from Springsteen and Franklin, Davis launched J Records with $150 million from BMG. Within its first year, J Records scored Top 10 albums by Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys, and Busta Rhymes, and later signed Rod Stewart, Annie Lennox, Leona Lewis, Jamie Foxx, and Franklin.
In 2002, BMG bought out Davis's stake in J for an estimated $20 million, and the following year he was named chairman and CEO of the RCA Music Group, putting him back in charge of Arista. He became involved with "American Idol," creating chart successes for its alumni, and earned two Grammys for Jennifer Hudson's 2008 debut and Kelly Clarkson's 2004 "Breakaway."
In February 2008, Rolling Stone profiled Davis as "The Last Record Man." He was appointed chief creative officer at Sony BMG and remained in the role when Sony bought out BMG's stake later that year, becoming Sony Music Entertainment. The role kept him close to artists but removed him from day-to-day management.
In 2013, Davis spoke publicly about his bisexuality in an interview with Katie Couric. A documentary, "Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives," chronicled his career in 2017.
Davis is survived by his partner, Greg Schriefer; four children—Fred and Lauren from his first marriage to Helen Cohen, and Mitchell and Douglas from his second marriage to Janet Adelberg—eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
