Clive Davis, the influential music executive who died at age 94, left a lasting mark on the industry through his keen ability to identify and cultivate hit songs across multiple decades and genres. His career, which began in earnest when he took the helm at Columbia Records in the mid-1960s, was defined by a dedication to artist development and an instinct for chart-topping singles, despite having no formal musical training.

Davis’s early years at Columbia coincided with significant cultural shifts, notably the burgeoning psychedelic rock scene highlighted at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, where he first spotted Janis Joplin, signing her to the label. Over time, Davis expanded Columbia’s scope beyond its traditional middle-of-the-road reputation, pushing into R&B and soul by partnering with producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. This collaboration birthed the Philadelphia International label and timeless tracks like Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ 1972 hit “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”

Throughout the 1970s, Davis played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of iconic artists. He encouraged Bruce Springsteen to produce now-classic songs such as “Blinded by the Light” after initially critiquing his debut album, and he transformed Barry Manilow’s fortunes by championing the song “Mandy,” which became Manilow’s first No. 1 hit in 1974. Davis also revitalized the career of Dionne Warwick with 1979’s “I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” pairing her with Manilow for a successful comeback.

In the 1980s, Davis continued to influence R&B and pop. After Aretha Franklin left Atlantic Records, Davis helped engineer her resurgence at Arista Records with hits like “Freeway of Love,” produced by Narada Michael Walden. He also personally curated Whitney Houston’s debut album, selecting songs such as “Saving All My Love for You,” which became a significant milestone in her rise to superstardom. Davis’s promotion of Kenny G’s instrumental “Songbird” through persistent marketing helped make the saxophonist one of the most commercially successful instrumentalists ever.

Yet Davis’s record with manufactured pop acts was more controversial. He was closely involved in the success of Milli Vanilli’s “Blame It on the Rain,” which reached No. 1 but later became infamous after it was revealed that the frontmen had not sung on the recordings. Davis expressed that he too was deceived by the group’s producer and distanced himself from the scandal.

In the later stages of his career, Davis was instrumental in Santana’s late-1990s comeback. Although initially reluctant about the single “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas, Davis insisted on its inclusion, and the track went on to spend three months atop the charts in 1999. He also nurtured Alicia Keys as the flagship artist of his J Records label, leveraging his industry connections to boost her profile, helping secure her five Grammy Awards with her debut album. Similarly, Davis helped reshape Rod Stewart’s career when the singer pivoted to American Songbook standards in the early 2000s, leading to multi-platinum sales and Grammy nominations.

Throughout his extensive career, Davis’s passion for crafting energetic, accessible hits influenced a broad spectrum of artists and genres, establishing him as one of the most impactful figures in contemporary music history.