Clive Davis, music mogul behind Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen, dies aged 94

Clive Davis, music mogul behind Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen, dies aged 94Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Clive Davis is one of the few music industry executives who became a well-known figure outside the boardroomByMark SavageMusic correspondentPublished22 June 2026Clive Davis, one of the most influential music executives in the history of rock and pop, has died at the age of 94.A former head of Columbia and Arista Records, he signed and shaped the careers of artists including Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston, Santana, Janis Joplin, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys and many others. He had recently been in hospital with respiratory problems and was recovering at home in Manhattan, New York, when he died, his family said."To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives," they said in a statement. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Clive Davis signed Whiteny houston in 1983"He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations."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."Among those paying tribute was Bruce Springsteen.In a post on Instagram, external, the Born in the USA singer said that he was mourning the death of "the great record man" and a "close friend"."At 22 years old, he changed my life when he signed me to Columbia Records," Springsteen wrote. "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."Another former client and rock iconoclast Patti Smith also posted on Instagram following news of his death., external"Thanking Clive Davis for transforming mu...