Credited from: LEMONDE
Clive Davis, the legendary music executive and producer, passed away on June 22 at the age of 94, according to his family. He was recognized for his profound influence over the last half-century in shaping popular culture by discovering and nurturing the careers of numerous superstars such as Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, and Whitney Houston. His family released a statement celebrating Davis as a "towering figure whose influence changed music forever" and as a leader who embodied "grace, generosity, and kindness." The statement did not mention the cause of death, but reports indicate that he had recently been hospitalized due to an upper respiratory issue, as noted by Le Monde and Channel News Asia.
Davis began his prolific career in the music industry when he took the helm at Columbia Records in 1967. His exceptional talent for recognizing potential in artists led him to sign a diverse array of genres, from rock & roll to early hip-hop. He subsequently founded Arista Records in 1974, where he continued to produce hits for artists including Janis Joplin, Billy Joel, and The Notorious B.I.G. Throughout his career, he garnered multiple Grammy Awards and was widely acknowledged as a pioneer in the music industry, according to NPR, Le Monde, and Channel News Asia.