Legendary American music executive and record producer Clive Davis has passed away at the age of 94.

The music mogul died on Monday, June 22, at his home in New York City. His exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed, although reports say he had recently been hospitalised with an upper respiratory infection and was discharged on June 4 to continue recovering at home.

Clive Davis was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1932, where he grew up in a modest Jewish family. He later attended Harvard University and went on to study at Harvard Law School.

He began his professional career in law, working as an attorney before making a major transition into the music industry in the 1960s when he joined Columbia Records.

His swift move to the music industry quickly proved his ability to identify emerging talent and understand commercial sound, helping to sign and develop major acts that would later define an era of popular music. 

Davis made a name for himself as a “hitmaker” as he grew from the legal field to executive becoming the president of Columbia Records.

One of the biggest moments of Clive Davis’ career happened in 1983 when he discovered and signed American singer, songwriter and actress Whitney Houston.

He guided her at the start of her career and shaped her into one of the best-selling musicians in the world with her iconic vocals.

The veteran also played a major role in the lives of several other artists such as Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Janis Joplin, Barry Manilow, Bruce Springsteen, and Kelly Clarkson, among many others. 

In 1974, he founded a label Arista Records which became one of the most successful in the world under his leadership. 

He later established J Records in 2000, continuing his influence across different eras of the music business and working with new generations of artists.

Over the years, Davis also became known for his annual pre-Grammy gala, an exclusive industry event that grew into one of the most important nights on the music calendar.

In 2000 Clive Davis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame recognising his lasting contribution to the industry.

He is survived by his children and extended family.