Music mogul Clive Davis dies at 94
Clive Davis, the music mogul who became one of the most influential figures in popular music, died Monday in Manhattan. He was 94 years old. The four-time Grammy Award-winning producer “passed away peacefully from age-related illness… surrounded by his family and loved ones,” his longtime publicist Aliza Rabinoff confirmed to Rolling Stone. He had been recently hospitalized for an upper respiratory infection. Over a career spanning six decades, Davis, who was born in New York City in 1932, played a major role in shaping the sound of rock, folk, R&B and hip-hop. Artists immortalized him in their song lyrics. He was also one of the few industry executives who was considered as much of a star as some of the talent he signed. Although Davis began at Columbia Records as assistant counsel, he became a label executive in 1965. Among the earliest acts he signed were Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1974, Davis founded Arista Records, signing Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Patti Smith, Barry Manilow, and …
