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Davis Dies at 94
Clive Davis, the record company lawyer who became one of the music industry’s most powerful figures, died at 94 in his Manhattan apartment on June 22, his family confirmed.
“passed away peacefully from age-related illness”
USA TODAY said Davis “passed away peacefully from age-related illness” at his Manhattan home on June 22, “surrounded by his family and loved ones,” after he was hospitalized for an upper respiratory infection.
AP reported that Davis died weeks after being hospitalized for an upper respiratory issue, with his publicist Aliza Rabinoff saying he died in his Manhattan apartment.
The Associated Press also described Davis as launching or resurrecting the careers of superstars including Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana and Alicia Keys, and noted that many artists mourned his passing on Monday.
Tributes and Quotes
In tributes after his death, Carlos Santana called Davis “a visionary,” Michael Bublé said the music executive “believed in people and their dreams,” and Patti Smith thanked Davis for a half century of “love and support.”
Former President Barack Obama said in a video message played at this year’s gala that “Clive’s talent has always been seeing and hearing what other people don’t.”
Rolling Stone quoted Bruce Springsteen writing, “At 22 years old, he changed my life when he signed me to Columbia Records,” adding that Davis “treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success.”
A family statement carried by multiple outlets described Davis as “the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives,” and said he “discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history.”
Legacy and Ongoing Influence
Davis’s career spanned major labels including Columbia Records, Arista Records and J Records, and AP said his exclusive pre-Grammys gala—held every year since 1975—continued to be an institution.
“every year since 1975”
AP also said Davis directed the careers of everyone from Barry Manilow to “American Idol” winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, and noted that in 2015 the NAACP recognized Davis for his groundbreaking work by presenting him with the Vanguard Award.
USA TODAY said Davis was still involved in choosing talent for his annual Pre-Grammy Gala, and described him days before the show in his bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, poring over comments for that year’s event.
The Hollywood Reporter said Davis was the recipient of five Grammys, including the Recording Academy’s Trustees Award in 2000, and Rolling Stone said his pre-Grammy party often eclipsed the awards show in both attention and spectacle.
