Clive Davis, a towering figure whose talent-spotting and executive instincts helped shape modern popular music, died Monday at his Manhattan home. He was 94. Family members confirmed the death but did not disclose a cause. Davis had been briefly hospitalized in New York in May with an upper respiratory infection and was reported to be recovering at the time.

Davis’s influence stretched across genres and generations. He rose through the music industry in the 1960s and by age 35 was president of Columbia Records, where he identified and signed major talents that would become enduring stars. His early career included discovering Janis Joplin and her band after attending the Monterey Pop Festival, a pivotal moment that signaled his lifelong ability to recognize breakthrough artists and songs.

In 1974 Davis founded Arista Records, a label that became synonymous with polished, chart-dominating pop and R&B. Under his guidance, Arista cultivated an array of major acts and produced hits that defined radio playlists for decades. In 2000 he launched J Records, which further extended his influence into a new era of commercial pop and adult contemporary music. Through subsequent corporate moves, Davis remained a leading creative executive at what became Sony Music Entertainment, holding the title of Chief Creative Officer until his death.

Davis’s track record of hits is expansive. He played central roles in careers and recordings that included “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Piano Man,” “The Greatest Love of All,” and modern cross-genre successes such as “Smooth” and Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’.” He was also a key figure in the early careers of artists who helped define late-20th and early-21st-century music, including Whitney Houston, whose international stardom he helped cultivate, and Sean “Diddy” Combs, who emerged as a major force in hip-hop and business.

Beyond signing and developing artists, Davis was known for his role in assembling teams of songwriters, producers, and arrangers, and for pushing record companies toward more ambitious marketing and production investments. His approach combined legal and business acumen—he began his professional life as an attorney—with a deep, personal sense of musical taste. That dual skill set allowed him to negotiate deals, design careers, and champion material that might otherwise have been overlooked.

Davis also became renowned for his pre-Grammy parties, which evolved into one of the music industry’s most important annual gatherings. Those events drew artists, producers, and executives from around the world and served as a stage for networking, deal-making, and celebrating industry achievements. Attendees over the years included pop and rock royalty, R&B and gospel icons, and emerging stars across multiple genres.

Throughout his six-decade career, Davis navigated substantial changes in the music business. He worked through the vinyl-to-CD transition, the rise of music video and MTV, the emergence of digital downloads, and the streaming revolution. While his career began in an era of tightly controlled radio playlists and record-store sales, he adapted repeatedly to new distribution models and shifting audience behaviors, helping veterans and newcomers alike find commercial success in changing markets.

Davis’s contributions extended beyond hit records. He was a mentor to executives and artists and an influential voice in the development of artist branding and international promotion. Labels he led and projects he greenlighted often combined commercial ambition with mainstream accessibility, expanding the audiences for soul, R&B, pop, and hip-hop. His role in cultivating Whitney Houston in particular had a lasting cultural impact: her vocal style, commercial reach, and crossover success reshaped expectations for female vocalists in pop and R&B.

The music industry paid tribute to Davis as news of his death spread, with many noting his long record of identifying and nurturing talent and his knack for assembling hitmaking teams. Artists who rose under his wing credited him with career-changing opportunities and with creating platforms that allowed their work to reach global audiences.

Davis’s leadership positions evolved with industry consolidation. After Arista’s prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, subsequent corporate restructurings brought his labels into larger media groups, but his creative influence remained central. His continued title at Sony reflected enduring respect for his judgment and an ongoing role in talent development and creative strategy.

Clive Davis leaves behind a legacy measured in chart-topping records, award-winning careers, and institutional changes in how artists were discovered and developed. His decades-long career helped to define the soundtracks of multiple generations and shaped the business practices that turned promising acts into international stars.

Survivors include family members who confirmed his death. Further details on funeral arrangements, memorials, and any official statements from music companies are expected to be released by his family and professional representatives.