Record Company Executive, Author, Impresario, and Attorney, Clive Davis has passed away. Known for his ability to spot talent, Daivs made his initial mark as President of CBS Records from his tenure from 1967 to 1973 signing ground breaking acts Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin and countless others who became household names in America and Internationally.
After his firing from CBS, (under dubious circumstances) he went on to form Arista records in 1974 The name came from a New York City Public School secondary Honor Society in which he was also a member.
The label was originally known as Bell records. Using his skills he acquired while at CBS, Davis reorganized the label, sending many of it’s acts to subsidiary labels and built the label roster from Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester, and the Bay City Rollers.
As Arista rolled into the 1980’s Davis made two major signings, Aritha Franklin, who just left Atlantic records and in 1983, Whitney Houston who would become a Superstar and one of the labels top selling Artists.
Davis always liked to keep an eye and follow what was happening in Rock and Roll and Pop music. and loved in being referred to as a, “Hitmaker” in the music industry.
He was revered by many for his ability to “sign and break” new artists, and he reveled in that. Davis also took to being a Godfather of sorts, nurturing and giving guidance to many of his Artists.
Although he was married and had four children from these unions, Davis stunned the world by coming out is Bi-sexual in 2013 at the age of 80. Davis was already for this lauded for his success in the music industry.
He hoped that his coming out as Bi-Sexual man would help create better understanding of Bi-Sexuality as he told Katie Couric.
Davis passed away in New York, on June 22nd 2026 at the age of 94.
