Clive Davis is a music icon. He is a record producer and also a A&R executive and not only that a lawyer. There is not to many people in the music industry bigger than Mr. Davis.
Davis has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That happened in 2000. Clive was also president of Columbia Records from 1967 to to 1973. And was the founder and also president of Arista Records from 1974 to 2000.
Mr. Davis was chair and CEO of the RCA Music Group from 2002 to 2008. And also was chair and CEO of J Records and Arista Records. And also was chair and CEO of BMG North America.
Readers, Clive Davis has done so much in the music industry. It is unreal. He has signed so many artists that many of you know about. Artists like Sly and The Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Billy Noel.
But not only that, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd AND he also helped make the late great Whitney Houston and a music legend.
Did you know in 1972, Davis signed this group Earth, Wind and Fire to Columbia Records. WOW that was a HUGE signing! Then he made another HUGE signing of Aerosmith. Of course the group was and still is led by Steven Tyler.
Under his leadership at Arista Records, he signed Barry Manilow, the Queen of Soul the late great Aretha Franklin, another great Dionne Warwick, Air Supply, Ray Parker Jr, and Alicia Keys.
Also brought to the label Carly Simon, the Greatful Dead, The Kinks, Jermaine Stewart and the late Gil Scott Herron. Check this out ladies and gentlemen, Clive ALSO founded Laface Records with L.A. Reid and Babyface. And signed TLC, Usher, Outkast, Pink, and Toni Braxton.
You want more? Davis ALSO founded Bad Boy Record with Sean “Diddy” Combs. They signed the late Notorious B.I.G, the late Craig Mack, 112, and Faith Evans.
When it came to Whitney, he learned about her after he saw her perform at a NYC nightclub. Of course he enjoyed what he saw in Houston and signed her to Arista. And we all know how she blew up to become a international superstar.
Whitney Houston was a mega-star. RIP to Whitney. I know it hurt Davis big time when Whitney passed in 2012 in Los Angeles. By the way, your truly and Tammy Jackson-Cloy was in L.A. for the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel that year.
I was sitting in my motel room getting ready for Tammy and myself to cover the red carpet at the pre-Grammy event. All of a sudden I get a phone call from Tammy.
She asked me if I heard the breaking news that they found Houston dead at the hotel we were on our way to later that night, The Beverly Hilton Hotel!! I told her I did not hear anything until the breaking news came on the TV that Whitney died. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!!
Tammy and I was in L.A. when superstar Whitney Houston died. The person Clive Davis made into a star. That night we went to the Beverly Hilton to be on the red carpet at a event Whitney was suppose to be at. I am sure Houston would have been on the carpet with Davis.
While we were doing interviews on the carpet about the passing of Whitney, her body was still upstairs!! UNREAL!!
Yes I can go on and on regarding what Mr. Davis has done in the music industry. Truthfully their is almost no one who has done what Clive has done and has discovered so many artists that have went on to super stardom. The list is incredible.
Every year like I mentioned, Davis helps to have a huge pre Grammy party the night before the main Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. I have been lucky enough to be on the red carpet two times.
So many entertainers show up for the event to be there and to perform. Clive Davis is 91 years old now and has shown no signs of retirement. Most likely he will continue to sign new talent and maybe help them to become superstars like he has done so many times before.
Comments: gcurvey@yahoo.com