Music industry giant Clive Davis passes away at 94

Clive Davis , the music industry legend and Arista Records founder who has been instrumental in the careers of some of the most famous artists of the last 60 years, died on Monday at his home in NYC. He was 94.

His family shared a statement, writing, “To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives. He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations.

To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love. No matter how extraordinary his professional accomplishments, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved.”

Davis was born in Brooklyn in 1932 and after graduating Harvard Law School in 1956 practiced law for a couple years before catching the music bug and turning his attention to the record business. By 1967 he was president of Columbia/CBS Records where he stayed until 1973 when, after being fired, started his own label, Arista. In 2000 started J Records, and in 2008 was named Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainment, a title he held until his death.

At his annual Grammys party in January, Davis was introduced via video by Barack Obama who said, “Most people don’t realize how much the music they love was shaped by one man.” Among the artists Davis helped guide over the years include Whitney Houston, Pink Floyd, Alicia Keys, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Laura Nyro, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Donovan, and many more.

His 2013 memoir The Soundtrack of My Life was the basis for 2017 documentary Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives . You can watch the trailer for that below.

Rest easy, Clive.

_Originally reported by [Brooklyn Vegan](https://www.brooklynvegan.com/clive-davis-music-industry-legend-and-arista-records-founder-dead-at-94/)._