Clive Jay Davis (April 4, 1932 – June 22, 2026) was an American record executive, A&R executive, record producer, and lawyer. He won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a non-performer, in 2000.[1]
From 1967 to 1973, Davis was the president of Columbia Records. He was founder and president of Arista Records from 1974 through 2000 until founding J Records. From 2002 until April 2008, he was chair and CEO of the RCA Music Group (which included RCA Records, J Records, and Arista Records), chair and CEO of J Records, and chair and CEO of BMG North America.
Davis is credited with hiring a young recording artist, Tony Orlando, as a music executive for Columbia in 1967 who provided Barry Manilow with his first recording contract a few years later.[2] He signed many artists who achieved significant success, including Pink Floyd, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Donovan, the Bay City Rollers, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Luther Vandross, Loggins and Messina, Ace of Base, Olivia Longott and Westlife. He is also credited with bringing Whitney Houston and Barry Manilow to prominence.[3]
As of 2018, Davis was the chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment.[4]
