Clive Davis: Legendary Music Executive Who Discovered Whitney Houston an

Clive Davis was an American record executive, producer and lawyer best known for discovering and developing some of the biggest stars in popular music, including Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin and Santana. Born on April 4, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York, he rose from a young attorney to become the most influential music executive of his time.

Davis served as president of Columbia Records from 1967 to 1973, signing artists such as Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen and Santana. In 1974 he founded Arista Records, which he led through 2000, and where he helped make Whitney Houston one of the best-selling artists in history. He won four Grammy Awards as a producer, including Album of the Year for Santana's Supernatural, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Davis was married twice and had four children and eight grandchildren. He publicly came out as bisexual in his 2013 autobiography The Soundtrack of My Life. He died at his home in Manhattan on June 22, 2026, at age 94. NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music carries his name, and his ear for talent shaped the music of generations.

Achievements: President of Columbia Records (1967-1973), founded Arista Records (1974), won four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year for Supernatural, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2000).

Birth: April 4, 1932 - Brooklyn, New York.

Profession: Record executive, producer and lawyer.

Interesting Facts: Stanley Tucci played Davis in the Whitney Houston biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, which Davis helped produce.