Clive Davis – who was responsible for the careers of many legendary musical acts including Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, and Carlos Santana – has died at 94.
The longtime music executive and founder of Arista Records and J Records – who had an estimated net worth of $850 million – passed away at his home in New York City on Monday.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Davis’s representatives and have yet to hear back.
Davis is survived by four children – Fred, Lauren, Mitchell, and Doug – and eight grandchildren in addition to longtime partner Greg Schriefer.
The music executive – who famously came out as bisexual in 2013 – had been in a relationship with real estate agent Schriefer for over two decades.
Just last month, he was hospitalized in his home state for a upper respiratory infection and was discharged days later.
Clive Davis (seen in October 2023) – who was responsible for the careers of many legendary musical acts including Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, and Carlos Santana – has died at 94
Davis is pictured with Usher (left) and Whitney Houston in Beverly Hills back in October 2006
Davis is survived by four children – Fred, Lauren, Mitchell, and Doug – and eight grandchildren in addition to longtime partner Greg Schriefer (pictured together in April 2025)
Davis was a titan of the music industry as he also helped shape the careers of Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, among many others.
He was the former president of Columbia Records and is the chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment.
His last public appearance was in the Big Apple as he was in attendance at The Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner and Auction 2026 on May 19.
It was there where he was seated next to one of his protégés Keys, 45, at the charity gala.
In 2013, he revealed for the first time that he was bisexual in his autobiography The Soundtrack Of My Live.
As he had been married to women twice before, his two more recent partners were male.
He wrote in his book: ‘I enjoyed my time with all of them and honestly felt I had no strong sexual preference.’
Clive separated from his second wife in 1985 after a period of ‘soul searching and self-analysis’ and says that he went on to have simultaneous relationships with two women and a man.
His last public appearance was in the Big Apple as he was in attendance at The Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner and Auction 2026 on May 19; seen above with Alicia Keys on May 19
Davis was a titan of the music industry as he also helped shape the careers of Aretha Franklin , Janis Joplin, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, among many others (he is seen with Rod Stewart in New York back in December 2003)
In 2013, he revealed for the first time that he was bisexual in his autobiography The Soundtrack Of My Live (he is pictured with George Clooney and partner Schriefer in November 2025)
Davis was born in April 1932 in Brooklyn and studied political science at New York University College of Arts & Science. He later graduated from Harvard Law School in 1956
Then in 1990 he entered into a ‘monogamous relationship’ with an unnamed male doctor.
That relationship ended in 2004, but Davis says he has been in a relationship with Schriefer ever since.
Davis was born in April 1932 in Brooklyn and studied political science at New York University College of Arts & Science. He later graduated from Harvard Law School in 1956.
And then in 60s, he became General Counsel of Columbia Records before being appointed as Vice President and General Manager in 1966.
The following year, Davis reached a major milestone when he became President of Columbia Records, where he pursued his interest in rock and folk music.
He attended the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and signed Janis Joplin’s band called Big Brother and The Holding Company.
Other artists that he eventually signed included Blood, Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Santana, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith as well as Earth, Wind and Fire.
Davis was notably inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2000 as a non-performer.
He attended the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and signed Janis Joplin’s band called Big Brother and The Holding Company; Joplin seen in 1968 in NYC
He had also hired recording artist Tony Orlando who later became vice-president of Columbia/CBS Music. In 1969, Orlando notably signed Barry Manilow (Davis and Manilow are seen in April 2017)
During a past discussion with The Talks, Davis recalled attending the festival in Monterey and its impact.
‘In the months thereafter I signed Blood, Sweat & Tears, and built my roster at Columbia quietly until I launched it in a really important way.’
He added, ‘Watching Janis that day, I realized that I’ve got to move on my instinct, my intuition. Every artist that I’ve signed since has had an impact.’
Davis also helped in the successful careers of Simon & Garfunkel, Andy Williams and Barbra Streisand.
He had also hired recording artist Tony Orlando who later became vice-president of Columbia/CBS Music. In 1969, Orlando notably signed Barry Manilow.
Davis left Columbia and went on to launch Arista Records in 1974.
The label, which is now owned by Sony Music Entertainment, helped kickstart the careers of other music artists such as Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Aretha Franklin, The Grateful Dead, Eurythmics, and Dionne Warwick.
Under Arista, he also signed Alicia Keys, Westlife, Kenny G, Air Supply and Bay City Rollers.
In 2000, he left Arista to form J Records which had an artist roster that included Annie Lennox, Alicia Keys, Busta Rhymes, Jamie Foxx, Maroon 5, Jennifer Hudson, Kesha, Rod Stewart and Pearl Jam; seen in 2024 in LA
Over the years, the music mogul has garnered four Grammy wins as a producer, including Album of The Year for The Bodyguard by Whitney Houston; seen in 2004 in Las Vegas
Davis also launched LaFace Records in 1989 with LA Reid and Babyface.
Music artists that were signed to the label included TLC, Usher, Pink and also Toni Braxton.
Five years later, the record executive also founded Bad Boy Records with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs which acquired performers including Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans and Mase.
In 2000, he left Arista to form J Records which had an artist roster that included Annie Lennox, Alicia Keys, Busta Rhymes, Jamie Foxx, Maroon 5, Jennifer Hudson, Kesha, Rod Stewart and Pearl Jam.
Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) bought a majority stake in J Records in 2002 before the label started working under RCA Music group. It dissolved into RCA Records in 2011.
RCA Records is owned by Sony Music Entertainment, which Davis is currently the chief creative officer of.
Over the years, the music mogul has garnered four Grammy wins as a producer, including Album of The Year for The Bodyguard by Whitney Houston.
‘Music is a necessary ingredient in people’s lives,’ Davis said during his discussion with The Talks.
Davis pictured with Carlos Santana at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles back in February 2000
‘No matter what revolution is occurring in technology, it has to understand that music will not be obsoleted.’
He added, ‘People need music, and they’ve needed it for many years in many different ways; whether you go back to church traditions or other traditions in life, whether it’s pop or soul or rock or jazz…
‘It’s a very, very natural basic ingredient that’s essential to the full enjoyment of life.’
Back in 2021, Davis was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy which had caused him to postpone his annual Pre-Grammy Gala.
Back in 2021, Davis was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy which had caused him to postpone his annual Pre-Grammy Gala; seen with Aretha Franklin in December 2015
Keys and Davis seen in 2024 in NYC
It is ‘a condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face,’ per Mayo Clinic.
At the time, a rep for Davis told Variety that the star was in ‘good spirits’ amid the diagnosis.
The star also told Variety earlier this year that he liked to stay up-to-date with new music that comes out.
‘First of all, I enjoy it. Secondly, I like feeling informed, so that when I meet the new artists or we spend time together, they’re not talking to yesterday’s maven, so to speak.’
