Clive Davis
Clive Davis (Clive Jay Davis) was born on April 4th, 1932 and is currently 94 years old. Clive Davis was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Davis attended New York University College of Arts & Science where he received a political science degree. Davis also graduated from Harvard Law School.
Clive Davis is an A&R executive, record producer, record executive, and attorney. He’s won 5 Grammys and got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 as a non-performer.
He went to NYU College of Arts & Science, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in political science and Phi Beta Kappa in 1953.
He was the president of Columbia from 1967 to 1973. He was the founder and president of Arista from 1974 until 2000 until he founded J Records. Then from 2002 until April of 2008 he was the CEO and chair of RCA Music Group and CEO and chair of J Records and CEO and chair of BMG North America.
He’s credited with hiring Tony Orlando, a young recording artist, for Columbia in 1967. Clive’s signed many artists that achieved significant success, including Laura Nyro, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Billy Joel, Ace of Base, Aerosmith, Olivia Longott, Donovan, Pink Floyd, and Loggins and Messina. He’s also credited with bringing Barry Manilow and Whitney Houston to prominence.
Clive practiced law in a small firm in New York, then moved on to the firm of Rosenman, Colin, Kaye, Petschek, and Freund 2 years later, where Ralph Colin had CBS as a client. Clive was hired by a former colleague at the firm to become assistant counsel of CBS subsidiary Columbia at 28, and then general counsel the next year.
In
The Soundtrack of My Life, Clive recounts an extraordinary 5 decade long career in the music business, as he also tells this remarkable tale about encounters with some of the greatest musical artists of our time.
Orphaned during his teens, he earned a full scholarship to New York University and another to Harvard Law School. Clive served as the General Counsel to Columbia Records and, in a fully unexpected stroke of fate, became the head of the company overnight. Even more surprisingly, he discovered that he had “ears”, this rare ability to spot talent and hit records. These ears contributed to the success of three companies Arista, Columbia and J, where Clive found and developed more unique artists than anybody in the music industry’s history.
What started on the grass at the Monterey Pop Festival with Janis Joplin’s signing has evolved into a lifelong passion and calling, spanning genres. He’s the imprimatur which helped shape contemporary music and, over the years, our pop culture.
This is an essential book for anybody interested in pop music’s story, the alchemy of hits, the fascinating ups and downs of the music business, and the dramatic life of one brilliant leader and listener. It’s a riveting story from beginning to end.
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- Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
Clive Davis: F.A.Q
When was Clive Davis Born? How old is Clive Davis?
Clive Davis was born on April 4th, 1932. Clive Davis is currently 94 years old.
Where was Clive Davis Born?
Clive Davis was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA and is American.
What was the first book Clive Davis wrote?
The first book written by Clive Davis was Clive: Inside The Record Business, published in 1975.
What was the most recent book Clive Davis wrote?
His most recently released work was The Soundtrack Of My Life on February 19th, 2013.
Are there upcoming new books by Clive Davis?
Clive Davis does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
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How many books has Clive Davis written?
Clive Davis has written 2 books. All of his books are Non-Fiction Books.