Departures of note

Clive Jay Davis was born on April 4, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York City. He graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a degree in political science and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1956. After practicing law briefly, he joined CBS Records, where his talent for identifying hits quickly propelled him upward.

In 1967 he became president of Columbia Records, signing and nurturing artists such as Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Santana, and Chicago. He left Columbia in 1973 to found Arista Records, which became home to Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, and many other stars. Davis later served as chair and CEO of the RCA Music Group and held senior roles at Sony Music Entertainment, where he was chief creative officer until his death.

Over his career Davis won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non‑performer in 2000. His keen ear for talent and his executive vision helped define the sound of popular music across several decades. He died at the age of 94, leaving a lasting legacy in the music industry.