Clive Davis, the music executive who founded Arista Records and J Records and helped shape the careers of Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood and many others, died on Monday at his home in New York City. He was 94.
His death was confirmed by his longtime rep Aliza Rabinoff, who added in a statement that he “passed away peacefully from age-related illness … surrounded by his family and loved ones.” Davis had faced several health issues in recent years. In late May, he was hospitalized in New York City following an upper respiratory issue. He was released a few days later, with a rep saying at the time that the music mogul was “in good spirits and happy to be recuperating at home.”
In 2021, Davis was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, a serious but temporary condition that causes sudden weakness in facial muscles. The diagnosis forced Davis to postpone his famed annual pre-Grammy Gala, which has been held the night before the ceremony every year since 1975.
Davis’ legacy in the music business spanned a remarkable seven decades across varying genres of music. After being named president of Columbia Records in 1967 at age 35, Davis scored hits in each successive decade with a diverse group of now-iconic artists including Joplin, Barry Manilow, Houston, the Grateful Dead, The Notorious B.I.G., Keys and Kelly Clarkson. “He’s the ultimate long-term player,” Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen’s manager, told Rolling Stone in 2008. “He was a label head in the 1960s. He was on top then, and now, 40 years later, is still on top — that’s remarkable. I do not think you’ll see that happen again.”
