Clive Davis

Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is an American record producer, lawyer, and iconic A&R executive whose influence reshaped popular music for more than half a century. Born in Brooklyn to Jewish parents, he survived the early loss of both parents and was raised by his sister in Queens, an experience that forged his relentless drive. He graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a political science degree and earned a full scholarship to Harvard Law School, graduating in 1956. After a brief stint practicing law, Davis entered the music business as assistant counsel for Columbia Records at age 28 and swiftly rose to become its general counsel and later president in 1967. During his tenure at Columbia, he signed groundbreaking artists such as Janis Joplin, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, and Aerosmith, and he played a pivotal role in the success of Whitney Houston and Barry Manilow. After a controversial departure from CBS in 1973, he founded Arista Records, where he continued to discover and nurture talent including Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, and the Bay City Rollers. In the 2000s he launched J Records, later overseeing the RCA Music Group and becoming chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment, a position he holds to this day. Davis’s impact has been recognized with five Grammy Awards, the Grammy Trustees Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non‑performer in 2000. His legacy extends to academia through the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, and his personal narrative includes coming out as bisexual at age 80, advocating for greater understanding of LGBTQ+ identities. Clive Davis continues to shape the music industry while mentoring new generations of artists and executives.