The pioneering American music mogul turned Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin and many others into megastars and has been shaping modern music for more than half a century.
In a statement quoted by Variety, Springsteen writes:
"Here on E Street, we mourn the passing of the great record man and close friend Clive Davis. At the age of 22, he changed my life when he signed me to Columbia Records. He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a completely unknown 22-year-old, as he did after all my success."
Pianist and singer Barry Manilow also shares his memories of Davis:
“For fifty years we worked together, created together, argued together and celebrated together. Some would say it was business, but for Clive it was never that. It was family.”
Alicia Keys posts a photo of herself with the music producer on Instagram, writing:
"To Clive Davis, the visionary who turned dreams into reality and left an unforgettable mark on music and lives around the world."
The former head of Columbia Records was recently hospitalized with respiratory problems, reports The New York Times, which also received confirmation of his death from the Davis family.
