Clive Davis

Clive Davis
Davis in 2023
Born
Clive Jay Davis

(1932-04-04) April 4, 1932 (age 92)
EducationErasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn
Alma materNew York University
Harvard Law School
Occupation(s)Record producer, record executive
Years active1965–present
Spouses
Helen Cohen
(m. 1956; div. 1965)
Janet Adelberg
(m. 1965; div. 1985)
Children4
Websiteclivedavis.com

Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is an American record producer, A&R executive, record executive, and lawyer. He has 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, for Columbia in 1967. He has signed many artists who achieved significant success, including Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Billy Joel, Donovan, Bay City Rollers, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Loggins and Messina, Ace of Base, Aerosmith, Olivia Longott, Pink Floyd and Westlife. He is also credited with bringing Whitney Houston and Barry Manilow to prominence.[2]

As of 2018, Davis is the chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment.[3]

  1. ^ "Clive Davis | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". www.rockhall.com. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "Q&A: Tony Orlando talks the Beatles, Elvis, and Meghan Trainor". Vancouver Sun. April 6, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference LauriaHits was invoked but never defined (see the help page).