music
Clive Davis predicted music's biggest stars like no one else
The legendary music executive signed everyone from Patti Smith to Barry Manilow and changed the industry forever
TL;DR
- Clive Davis, initially a lawyer, found his calling in the music business after attending the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.
- He had a unique talent for signing a wide array of artists, bridging genres from psychedelic soul to easy listening.
- Davis's success stemmed from his ability to balance progressive and traditional music, and his innate understanding of mass appeal.
- He was instrumental in the careers of numerous iconic artists, including Janis Joplin, Santana, Barry Manilow, and Whitney Houston.
- Despite some notable misses, Davis's career was marked by resilience and a consistent ability to discover and promote successful artists.
- His defining characteristic was identifying 'headliners', artists with broad appeal across different musical landscapes.