Music mogul Clive Davis has died at 94.
Davis passed away from an age-related illness Monday at his home in Manhattan, surrounded by his family, Fox News Digital can confirm.
The famed executive had been hospitalized earlier this year for an upper respiratory infection, The New York Times reported.
The Davis family put out a statement on the music producer’s Instagram, writing, “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.”
The statement 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.”
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“Through every chapter of his remarkable life, family remained Clive’s greatest pride and deepest joy. Today, we celebrate not only a towering figure whose influence changed music forever, but the man who led our family with grace, generosity, and kindness. We will miss him greatly, cherish him always, and carry his love with us for the rest of our lives.”
Davis helped shape the careers of some of the biggest names in music, including Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Carlos Santana, Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Earth, Wind & Fire and Billy Joel.
“I didn’t necessarily have an ear, but I think I developed one,” he told Playboy in 2013. “Whether there was a natural ear that was triggered, I don’t know the answer to that. But when you see a Joplin or a Springsteen, you know. And the statistics start mounting and give you confidence. You think, ‘My God, yeah, I did say yes to Santana.'”
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Unlike other record moguls whose influence waned as they got older, Davis’ influence only seemed to grow over his career, which spanned more than five decades, various genres and multiple labels. Into his 80s, he was directing the careers of everyone from Barry Manilow to “American Idol” winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.
Although Davis became president of Columbia Records in 1967 after joining the music company as a lawyer in 1960, he was gone by 1973 after the label accused him of mismanagement of funds.
While Davis was cleared of the allegations, he later faced an indictment on tax evasion charges and eventually paid a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty.
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To resolve the dispute, Columbia gave Davis money to begin Arista Records. The company would help launch the careers of country superstars Brooks & Dunn, R&B group TLC, Babyface, Houston, Franklin and others.
Davis was later ousted from Arista Records in 2000 by parent company BMG Entertainment. However, BMG went on to help him launch J Records. Both Arista Records and J Records are widely known as powerhouses in the music industry.
J Records was a success from the start, largely due to the career of Keys. Keys was known as the flagship artist of the record label after following Davis to J Records from Arista.
In 2008, Davis was appointed chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment, years after BMG Entertainment and Sony Music merged.
While he wasn’t a performer himself, Davis’ “greatest hits” are the artists and projects he championed. Known for his legendary ear for talent, Davis earned five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 2000.
He is survived by his sons Fred, Doug and Mitchell, daughter Lauren, and his eight grandchildren — Austin, Charlie, Matthew, Hayley, Harper, Sloane, Billie and Cody — two great-grandchildren, cousin Jo Schuman and partner Greg Schriefer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
