The Tisch community honors the life and legacy of Clive Davis (1932-2026), a fearless visionary who transformed the art of music production and introduced countless legendary artists to listeners around the globe. A distinguished NYU alumnus and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Davis profoundly shaped the landscape of modern music by creatively reimagining the role of record producer. His unmatched legacy lives on at NYU Tisch School of the Arts through the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where he helped develop an artistic ecosystem unlike any other in the world. Since 2022, Davis’ renowned career has been celebrated in a permanent retrospective at the Clive Davis Gallery at 370 Jay Street.
Born in Brooklyn, Clive Davis graduated from New York University’s College of Arts & Science, where he received his B.A. magna cum laude in 1953. He later earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and began his career working at multiple New York City law firms. In 1966, Davis was brought on as general counsel of Columbia Records and quickly ascended to vice president and general manager. Early on he recognized the unusual promise and commercial potential of the era’s emergent rock music, and after being named president of Columbia in 1967, Davis made his first in a series of major rock discoveries by signing Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company. In the subsequent years, Davis was responsible for introducing countless new rock talents to the world, including Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, and Earth, Wind and Fire.
Davis’ time at Columbia heralded the beginning of what would become the most influential record producing career in music history. Armed with an intuitive ear for music’s shifting cultural trends, Davis helped shape the sounds of countless genres across multiple eras. In 1974, he founded Arista Records and launched the careers of Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Kenny G, and Sarah McLachlan. The label also attracted legendary signings such as Aretha Franklin, The Grateful Dead, The Kinks, Lou Reed, Eurythmics, Dionne Warwick, Hall & Oates, and Carly Simon.
In October 1989, Davis partnered with L.A. Reid and Babyface to form LaFace Records, leading to an iconic roster of hitmaking artists including TLC, Toni Braxton, Usher, OutKast, and P!NK. He continued to invest in hip-hop's ascent by developing Bad Boy Records and helping grow the artist roster to include Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, and Mase. Davis also created J Records, which emerged as yet another flourishing label with chart-topping albums by Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Annie Lennox, Luther Vandross, Rod Stewart, and Jennifer Hudson.
In 2002, Clive Davis found his way back to New York University, announcing a large gift to Tisch School of the Arts for the creation of a new Department of Recorded Music. The program represented the first of its kind to offer a four-year, degree-granting undergraduate program recognizing the creative producer as an artist and elevating the craft of music recording. In 2011, Davis made an additional gift to NYU Tisch to expand the department, creating the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and bolstering a generous scholarship fund to support young talent from around the world. That same year he received an Honorary PhD of Fine Arts from the University. Additionally, Davis was a long-serving member of the Tisch Dean's Council. In 2022, the school unveiled the Clive Davis Gallery at 370 Jay Street, featuring a permanent exhibition celebrating Davis’ historic career. Davis' daughter, Lauren Davis, is a full-time faculty member at the Clive Davis Institute and currently serves as the program's associate chair.
“Clive Davis gave his namesake Institute far more than his name,” said Nick Sansano, chair of the Clive Davis Institute. “Through 25 years of mentorship, guidance, and unwavering support, he prepared us to carry forward the mission of providing future music industry leaders with a holistic university education. His vision lives on in every student who follows the entrepreneurial path he helped build. He did not have to found a transformative institution at Tisch — and we will always be deeply grateful that he did.”
Davis was the recipient of five Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which he received in 2000. He was also the recipient of many humanitarian honors from organizations such as the T.J. Martell Foundation, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Cancer Society. Davis received the Humanitarian Award from the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) for his efforts in the battle against AIDS.
As an author, Davis wrote the best-selling book Clive: Inside The Record Business, as well as his autobiography, The Soundtrack of My Life. His life was documented in the award-winning film Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives, produced by IM Global and Scott Free Productions.
A truly singular artist and innovator, Clive Davis leaves behind an unparalleled legacy and impact that is felt across every corner of the music world. The Tisch School of the Arts is endlessly grateful for his deep commitment to the school, its community of artists and educators, and to the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Davis’ profound contributions will shepherd generations of leaders in the field and continue to shape the future of music.
Clive Davis is survived by his children Fred, Lauren, Mitchell, and Doug; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his longtime partner, Greg Schriefer. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends, and loved ones in mourning this monumental loss.