Clive Davis, legendary music executive, dies at age 94

Clive Davis, a legendary euphony enforcement who helped signifier the careers of generations of artists including Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston, has died. He was 94.  

His publicist confirmed Davis died peacefully astatine his location successful Manhattan connected Monday of age-related illness, surrounded by his household and loved ones. 

Davis, a five-time Grammy Award winner, played a cardinal relation successful furthering the enactment of artists crossed genres — R&B, jazz, rock, country, hip-hop and more.

Davis wasn't drawn to euphony successful his aboriginal years, and began his vocation arsenic a lawyer.

"I was plucked retired of a instrumentality steadfast to go main lawyer for Columbia Records 3 years retired of instrumentality school. I did that for 5 years," Davis told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King in 2022.

He soon became caput of Columbia Records, with nary existent grooming successful music. He said helium ne'er thought helium would person a "musical ear," but helium was credited to beryllium 1 of the top hit-makers — signing immoderate of the biggest names successful the business, including Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Billy Joel, and Earth Wind and Fire.

"I bash cognize erstwhile I perceive a deed song. And truthful Simon and Garfunkel, [I'll] ne'er hide that erstwhile they played maine 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' I said, 'That has gotta beryllium the archetypal single,'" Davis had told CBS News, adding that "it was truthful classic," and his favourite song. 

Artists David Foster said the concealed to Davis' occurrence was communal respect.

"He's wholly artist-friendly and the creator ever comes first," Foster antecedently told CBS News.

Manilow said Davis was an inspiration to him and to everyone successful the euphony business.

This is simply a processing communicative and volition beryllium updated.