Clive Davis, Career-Making Music Mogul, Dies at 94

Clive Davis, the legendary music executive who brought everyone from Janis Joplin to Whitney Houston to prominence, has died at 94.

His family confirmed to The New York Times that Davis passed away after suffering from respiratory issues. He had recently been hospitalized with an infection.

The music titan's rep Aliza Rabinoff said that he “passed away peacefully from age-related illness… surrounded by his family and loved ones.” Davis died in his NYC home, surrounded by his loved ones.

His family said in a statement to "Extra," "To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives. He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations."

"To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love. No matter how extraordinary his professional accomplishments, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved," it went on.

The statement concluded with, "Through every chapter of his remarkable life, family remained Clive’s greatest pride and deepest joy. Today, we celebrate not only a towering figure whose influence changed music forever, but the man who led our family with grace, generosity, and kindness. We will miss him greatly, cherish him always, and carry his love with us for the rest of our lives."

For his prowess at discovering talent and predicting which artists had a shot at stardom in any musical genre one could name, he was known as "the Man with the Golden Ears."

A partial list of iconic talents whose careers were launched, enhanced, or extended via Davis's acumen would include, along with Joplin and Houston, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Chicago, Carlos Santana, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Simon & Garfunkel, Sly & the Family Stone, Miles Davis, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Foo Fighters, Sarah McLachlan, Annie Lennox, the Kinks, the Grateful Dead, Dionne Warwick, Carly Simon, the Notorious B.I.G., Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Luther Vandross, Rod Stewart and Jennifer Hudson.

Davis was president of Columbia Records; founder, president, chairman, and CEO of Arista Records; founder and CEO of J Records; chair of the RCA Music Group; and wound down his illustrious career as worldwide chief creative officer at Sony Music Entertainment.

His family stressed that Davis was particularly proud of having championed Black artists from the beginning of his career in 1971, when he signed Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International Records.

For his work with Black artists, Davis was honored by the NAACP and the Apollo Theater. Receiving the Apollo Legacy Award this year, he was introduced by President Barack Obama.

Davis is survived by his partner Greg Schriefer, his four children, his eight grandchildren, his two great-grandchildren, and his cousin.