Hollywood is playing a somber tune.
Clive Davis—the music executive who helped catapult the likes of Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and Bruce Springsteen to the upper echelons of fame—died on June 22 following a hospitalization for respiratory issues, his family confirmed. He was 94.
“To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives,” his family said in a statement shared with MS NOW. “He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations.”
They continued, “To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center 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.”
Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Davis never foresaw a life of music for himself—but in addition to the many artists who are grateful he ended up on that career path, so, too, was the late Grammy winner.