Rolling Stone publishes photo retrospective of Clive Davis’s career
8 reported
Rolling Stone has published a photo retrospective of music mogul Clive Davis, who was born in Brooklyn and raised in Crown Heights. Davis began much of his career running Columbia Records, starting as a lawyer at the label before becoming president. The article features photographs of Davis with numerous artists he signed or worked with, including Johnny Cash, Sly Stone, Janis Joplin, and Whitney Houston. Davis signed the Patti Smith Group after seeing her perform at CBGB in 1975, and he helped revitalize Aretha Franklin’s career after signing her to Arista Records in 1980. The retrospective notes that Davis never retired, and his son Fred told Rolling Stone in 2021 that “He’s not going to retire.” Davis’s appearance at the 67th Grammy Awards pre-Grammy Gala with Doechii is described as one of his last Grammy celebrations before his death.
What’s reported
Clive Davis was born in Brooklyn and raised in Crown Heights.
He started his career running Columbia Records, first as a lawyer and later as president.
Davis signed Janis Joplin to Columbia Records in 1967 after seeing her at the Monterey Pop Festival.
He signed the Patti Smith Group in 1975 after seeing her at CBGB.
Davis helped revitalize Aretha Franklin’s career after signing her to Arista Records in 1980.
He discovered Whitney Houston as a teenager in 1983 and worked with her throughout her career.
Davis never retired; his son Fred stated in 2021 that “He’s not going to retire.”
The article notes Davis’s appearance at the 67th Grammy Awards pre-Grammy Gala with Doechii was one of his last Grammy celebrations before his death.
Key figures
Clive Davis, music mogul
Johnny Cash, country singer
Sly Stone, musician
Janis Joplin, singer
Whitney Houston, singer
Patti Smith, musician
Aretha Franklin, singer
Fred Davis, Clive Davis’s son
Doechii, performer
Sources: Rolling Stone
