From his beginnings as an assistant general counsel at Columbia Records to being named chief creative officer at Sony Music, Billboard explores Davis' career in full.
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Clive Davis at the 2025 Apollo Theater Spring Benefit at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria on June 4, 2025, in New York City.
Shahar Azran/Getty Images
Legendary label executive Clive Davis, who died on Monday (June 22) at the age of 94, had an extraordinary career. After joining CBS Records subsidiary Columbia Records as an assistant counsel in 1960, he rose to the top ranks of the music business. Known for his ability to discover and shepherd music talent, Davis signed and/or mentored stars including Janis Joplin, Aerosmith, Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Usher, Carlos Santana, Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick.
