Clive Davis, who died at 94 on June 22, 2026, was one of the most influential executives in music history. Beginning at Columbia Records in 1967, the Harvard-educated lawyer transformed the label by signing artists across genres—from rock acts like Santana and Bruce Springsteen to pop stars like Whitney Houston and Barry Manilow. His gift was identifying talent that would resonate with mainstream audiences, whether spotting a minor UK hit that became a No. 1 single or recognizing when an artist needed to reinvent themselves, as he did with Rod Stewart's career resurgence through American Songbook standards.