From Columbia to Arista to Sony Music

Davis graduates from Harvard Law School.

Davis, at the age of 28, is hired by Harvey Schein to become an assistant counsel to CBS subsidiary Columbia Records.

Davis is appointed general counsel at Columbia Records.

Goddard Lieberson names Davis administrative vp and general manager of the Columbia Records Group.

CBS reorganizes its recorded music operations as CBS Records and names Davis to oversee the new unit as vp, putting him in charge of Columbia, Epic, Harmony, Date and Okeh Records and the Columbia Legacy Collection.

Davis is appointed president of CBS Records and signs Donovan to Epic Records. That June, he attends the Monterey International Pop Festival and famously signs Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Davis suggests Lynn Anderson release the song “Rose Garden” as a single ahead of her album, of the same name; the song hits No. 1 on the country charts and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and helps propel the album, which becomes the biggest-selling release by a female country artist for 27 years.

Davis signs Earth, Wind & Fire to Columbia Records. That same year, he sees Aerosmith perform at Max’s Kansas City in New York and signs them on the spot. Both would release more than a dozen albums on Columbia through the years.

Billy Joel signs with Columbia Records and releases his album Piano Man. That same year, CBS fires Davis, due to alleged embezzlement and misappropriating company funds, which he denies repeatedly over the years. Columbia Pictures hires him as a consultant for their Bell Records label.

Davis founds Arista Records, named after New York City’s secondary school honor society. One of his first signings is Barry Manilow, who becomes one of Arista Records most prominent artists; his first single for Arista, “Mandy,” becomes the label’s first Hot 100 No. 1.

Patti Smith signs with Arista and releases her debut album Horses that same year. The album would become highly acclaimed and influential.

The Grateful Dead signs with Arista Records and releases their album Terrapin Station the following year. Manilow’s song “Mandy” is nominated for record of the year at the Grammys, with Davis hosting a pre-party event to celebrate the occasion. The pre-party would go on to become a highly anticipated annual gala. The party’s first edition hosted A-list celebrities including Stevie Wonder and Elton John, as well as an ice sculpture depicting Manilow’s album cover.

Dionne Warwick joins Arista Recordings and sees chart success with the song “I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” which was produced by Manilow. The move marked a major career comeback for Warwick.

Whitney Houston, at the age of 19, signs her first recording contract with Arista Records. She would go on to become the label’s best-selling artist, with 11 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 23 top 10s, as well as four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.

Houston releases her self-titled debut album on Feb. 14. which hits No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on March 30, where it remains for 14 weeks. Her single “Saving All My Love For You” becomes her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Production company Clive Davis Entertainment launches to secure a first-look agreement with film studio TriStar Pictures. The Grateful Dead score their only Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Touch of Grey” from the album In the Dark.

Davis partners with L.A. Reid and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds to launch R&B record label LaFace Records. The label signed its first act, R&B duo Damian Dame, in 1991, and would become the label home for artists like OutKast, Toni Braxton and Usher, among others.

Davis provides Sean “Diddy” Combs with the financial backing needed to launch Bad Boy Records, with Arista as the label’s distributor. That same year, as the producer for Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard, he receives his first Grammy Award for album of the year.

Davis signs Carlos Santana to Arista Records, which leads to the release of his massive hit song “Smooth” with Rob Thomas and the collaborative album Supernatural.

Davis departs Arista and launches J Records. Alicia Keys becomes one of the first artists to sign to the label. That same year, Patti Smith inducts Davis into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and he receives the Ahmet Ertegun Award. He also receives the Trustees Award by the Recording Academy at the Grammy Awards, while he also takes home album of the year and best rock album as a producer for Supernatural by Santana, which was released on Arista and was eventually certified 15-times platinum by the RIAA.

Alicia Keys releases her debut album, Songs in A Minor, which hits No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spends three weeks atop the chart, launching her career.

Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) acquires a majority stake in J Records. Davis becomes president and CEO of the combined RCA Music Group, which encompasses RCA, Jive, Arista, LaFace and J Records.

The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts is founded. The program provides undergraduate students with training towards a BFA in Recorded Music.

BMG merges with Sony Music Entertainment, marking Davis’ return to his former home, years after CBS became Sony Music. He remains in his role at RCA Music Group.

Davis receives the Grammy Award for best pop vocal album for Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson.

Sony BMG names Davis chief creative officer. That same year, BMG sells its shares to Sony, with Davis remaining on as chief creative officer of the reconstituted Sony Music. He continues to hold the role until his death in 2026.

Davis receives another Grammy Award, this time for best R&B album, as a producer for Jennifer Hudson’s self-titled debut album.

Davis writes and publishes his autobiography, The Soundtrack of My Life. Within the book, Davis publicly comes out as bisexual at the age of 80. The book would become the basis for a documentary on Davis’ life under the same title, which would be released in 2017.

Davis co-produces the Sony Pictures’ Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody, where he is portrayed by actor Stanley Tucci.

Davis celebrates the 50th edition of his annual pre-Grammy gala, one of the most coveted invites on the music business calendar.