Clive Davis, the influential American music executive who helped launch and shape the careers of major artists including Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen, has died at the age of 94. Multiple outlets describe Davis as a leading figure in the music industry and a longtime executive at Columbia Records and Arista Records, later also associated with J Records. Several reports say he played a central role in the rise of artists such as Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, Alicia Keys, Carlos Santana, and others.

Rolling Stone and other summaries note that Davis experienced health issues in recent years, including hospitalization in May after an upper respiratory problem. South China Morning Post reports that he died at his home in Manhattan, citing information from The New York Times and his family. Across coverage, Davis is widely credited with identifying and developing talent, often described as having a “golden ear” for potential hits. No other details about the circumstances of death are consistently provided beyond his age, reported illness, and location.