A day after the death of legendary music executive Clive Davis at age 94, artists whose careers he helped shape—and whose lives he touched far beyond the boardroom—shared heartfelt tributes to one of the most influential figures in popular music history.
Davis’ six-decade run transformed the careers of everyone from Janis Joplin and Bruce Springsteen to Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and Outkast, leaving an impact that stretched across generations and genres.
Springsteen, who was signed to Columbia Records under Davis’ watch, remembered the executive as “the great record man and close friend” who changed his life when he was just 22 years old. In a statement, the Boss wrote that Davis “supported me through all the highs and lows of my work and career,” calling him “one of the giants of the music business and culture.”
Keys, whose career blossomed under Davis at J Records, thanked her mentor for believing in her from the beginning. “You changed my life,” she wrote. “Your vision, your genius, your unwavering belief in me before the world knew my name changed the course of my destiny forever.” The singer added that Davis’ influence extended beyond business. “You taught me how to stand in my truth, how to trust my gift and how to lead with heart,” she wrote. “You gave so many of us a chance to dream bigger.”
Other artists remembered Davis’ unique ability to nurture talent. Barry Manilow called him “a giant among men,” while Carlos Santana praised him as “a true light” and thanked him for believing in music’s power to heal and unite. Dionne Warwick remembered Davis as “a treasured friend,” and Michael Bublé described him as “a visionary whose passion for music was unmatched.”
“I owe Clive so much,” commented Rod Stewart. “The force behind J Records, he was the only one who believed a rock singer could sing the standards with conviction. Other labels rejected the idea, and so The Great American Songbook was born, selling close to 40 million copies.”
For Springsteen, the loss was personal. “He supported me through all the highs and lows of my work and career,” he wrote. “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,” seconded Patti Smith, who broke through in 1978 with her cover of Springsteen’s “Because the Night.”