A host of stars have taken to social media to pay tribute to legendary music producer Clive Davis, who has died at the age of 94.
Over the course of his long career, he launched or oversaw artists ranging from Whitney Houston to Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen to Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow to Aretha Franklin, Simon & Garfunkel to Santana, and many more.
As news of his death resonated on Monday, many of those artists posted tributes to him.
Barry Manilow posted, “My heart is heavy with the loss of my friend Clive Davis. For fifty years we worked together, created together, argued together, and celebrated together. Yes, some would say it was business. But to Clive, it never was. It was family. And I was honoured to be a part of his. Thank you, Clive. I wish we could do it all again.”
Bruce Springsteen wrote, “Over here on E Street, we mourn the death of the great record man and close friend Clive Davis. At 22 years old, he changed my life when he signed me to Columbia Records. He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success. A great man. All our prayers and love.”
“I owe Clive so much,” Rod Stewart penned. He was the only one who believed a rock singer could sing the standards with conviction. Other labels rejected the idea, and so The Great American Songbook was born, selling close to 40 million copies.
“He was a giant of a man in the music business,” Stewart added. “We had some wonderful, unforgettable times together, but for now, Mr Davis, it’s goodbye, my dear friend.”
A representative for the Davis family announced on Monday that the record executive had passed away.
A cause of death wasn’t disclosed, although he was hospitalised after developing an upper respiratory infection earlier this month.
“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,” they wrote.
