Clive Davis, a legendary music executive whose influence shaped the careers of some of the most iconic artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, died on Monday at his home in Manhattan. He was 94. His family confirmed his passing, noting that he had recently been hospitalized with respiratory issues.

Davis rose from a midlevel legal position at Columbia Records in 1960 to become one of the music industry’s most powerful figures. His tenure spanned more than five decades, during which he helped launch and sustain the careers of artists ranging from Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Barry Manilow to Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, and Rod Stewart. Over the years, he was widely recognized as a hitmaker and talent discoverer who played a pivotal role in transitioning record labels into new musical landscapes.

During the late 1960s, Davis played a crucial role in steering Columbia Records into the rock music era, signing influential acts such as Janis Joplin and Blood, Sweat & Tears. He also encouraged jazz legend Miles Davis to engage with younger audiences tied to the Woodstock generation. Later, as a top executive at Arista and J Records, Davis championed R&B-pop crossover artists and recognized the potential of hip-hop, despite initial hesitation toward the genre’s explicit language and themes. He later publicly acknowledged that his early caution delayed his full embrace of hip-hop, which became a major force in music starting in the 1980s and 1990s.

Davis’s approach combined sharp business acumen with a carefully cultivated ear for commercially viable music, a style he described as “contemporary music”—the product of matching the right songwriters, producers, and singers to create hits. His development of Whitney Houston’s debut album, released in 1985 after nearly two years of preparation, exemplified this methodology. That album spawned three No. 1 singles and sold over 25 million copies globally, cementing Houston as a superstar.

Despite beginning his career without a background in music—having studied law at New York University and Harvard—Davis distinguished himself through relentless study of industry trends and a keen understanding of what made songs resonate with wide audiences. His influence extended into his personal brand; recognizable for his colorful suits and European-accented speech, he became one of the few behind-the-scenes figures in music well known to the public.

Davis remained active in the industry well into his later years, serving as chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment. He was also known for hosting celebrated annual Grammy parties that became a fixture of the music world’s social calendar since 1976.

In a 2013 memoir, Davis came out as bisexual and discussed the importance of openness in his personal and professional life. He is survived by his wife Janet Adelberg, whom he married in 1985, and his children.

His contributions were recognized in 2001 with his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a nonperformer. Beyond music, he used his prominence to support education, health research, and the arts. Sony Music announced his death, marking the end of an era for the music business.