Music mogul and industry legend Clive Davis dies at age 94

American music mogul and five-time Grammy Award winner Clive Davis has died aged 94. 

The American executive and record producer, who oversaw the careers of Whitney Houston, Billy Joel, Barry Manilow and more stars, died peacefully at home in Manhattan, his family confirmed.

Davis, one of the most influential men in the music industry, had recently been hospitalised for an upper respiratory infection according to multiple outlets. 

In a statement released to Page Six, his family confirmed that he passed away surrounded by loved ones. 

“To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives,” the statement reads.

“He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations.

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“To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the centre 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.”

The statement added that his family was his “greatest pride and deepest joy” throughout “every chapter of his remarkable life.” 

“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,” the family said. 

“We will miss him greatly, cherish him always, and carry his love with us for the rest of our lives.”

Davis broke into the music industry in the early 1960s, and he was appointed president of Columbia Records at the age of 35 in 1967.

In that same year he attended the Monterey Pop Festival and Davis signed Janis Joplin and her band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, to Columbia – his first for the iconic label.

He became founder and president of Arista Records in 1974, which he held until 2000, when he founded J Records.

The first hit record released through Arista was with Manilow, in 1974, with the song Mandy.

In the years that followed there were hundreds of chart-topping singles that were overseen by the music mogul, including Houston’s Greatest Love of All, Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, Joel’s Piano Man, Santana’s Smooth, Alicia Keys’ Fallin’ and Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone, to name just some of them.

Davis was the chief creative officer at Sony Music Entertainment from late 2008 until his death.

He also became known for his pre-Grammy parties, which began in 1975 and quickly turned into one of the most coveted tickets to get your hands on.

Davis has previously addressed the practical role his pre-Grammy parties had in launching the careers of so many artists with The Talks.

“Well, all you can really do for an artist is create an opportunity to be seen by tastemakers,” he said.

“But if they don’t have the goods to back it up, it just becomes another social function. The value of the music shouldn’t be undermined.”