NEW YORK, United States — Clive Davis, the legendary American music executive who discovered and guided some of the most iconic voices in the music industry, including Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Bruce Springsteen, has died at the age of 94 at his home in Manhattan.
Davis passed away peacefully on Monday, June 22, 2026, surrounded by his family and loved ones, according to his publicist Aliza Rabinoff. He had recently been hospitalised for an upper respiratory issue and was discharged on June 4 while recovering at home.
The Brooklyn-born executive, famously dubbed “the man with the golden ears,” never intended to lead a life in music. After losing both parents as a teenager, he graduated from Harvard Law School and worked as a lawyer before joining Columbia Records in 1960. Within five years, Davis ascended to become the label’s president, where he propelled the company into the rock era by signing Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, Billy Joel, and Aerosmith.
Davis’s family remembered him as both “a towering figure whose influence changed music forever” and “the man who led our family with grace, generosity, and kindness.” “To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives,” the family said in a statement.
However, Davis is most celebrated for signing and mentoring Whitney Houston in 1983. He personally oversaw the recording of her eponymous debut album, which became a global phenomenon in 1985. Houston, whom Davis called “the greatest contemporary singer of all time,” scored seven consecutive Number One singles and sold more than 50 million records under his guidance.
Following his departure from Columbia in 1973, Davis founded Arista Records in 1974, where he signed Aretha Franklin, Patti Smith, Barry Manilow, and the Grateful Dead. He later launched J Records in 2000, helping break Alicia Keys and Maroon 5.
Bruce Springsteen paid tribute to Davis, writing, “Over here on E Street, we mourn the death of the great record man and close friend, Clive Davis. At 22 years old, he changed my life when he signed me to Columbia Records. He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success. A great man.”
Patti Smith also expressed gratitude, posting on Instagram: “This is thanking Clive Davis for transforming music, and on a very personal note, for believing in me, shepherding my efforts and a half century of your love and support.”
A five-time Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Davis remained active in the music industry until his death, serving as chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment. He is survived by his four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
