Behind some of the most enduring voices in popular music stands Clive Davis, a record executive whose extraordinary ear for talent spanned the rise of classic rock, the evolution of soul and R&B, and the emergence of modern pop superstars. Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Davis initially pursued a career in law, graduating from Harvard Law School in 1956 before joining Columbia Records as an attorney in 1960. Within seven years, he had become the label’s president — a position that put him at the center of one of the most transformative periods in popular music.
Davis’s rise coincided with the emergence of a new generation of rock artists. After attending the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967, he helped bring Janis Joplin and other groundbreaking acts to a wider audience, going on to champion artists like Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Billy Joel and Earth, Wind & Fire. Fired from Columbia in 1973 (over allegations that he used company funds to pay for his son’s bar mitzvah), he made a comeback the following year by founding Arista Records, where he signed and developed a remarkable roster of talent, including Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and Aretha Franklin.
Over the decades, Davis’s influence extended across rock, pop, R&B and hip-hop. He later founded J Records, helped launch the careers of Alicia Keys and other contemporary stars, and became chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment. A four-time Grammy winner and 2000 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he also became known for his annual pre-Grammy gala, one of the music industry’s most celebrated gatherings. His memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life, recounts a career spent shaping the sound of popular music.
In a 2013 interview with Bookish, Davis shared 5 of his favorite books that explore the art, craft, and creative forces behind great music. From Patti Smith’s intimate autobiography to Stephen Sondheim’s reflections on songwriting and Alex Ross’s sweeping history of twentieth-century music, they offer a glimpse into a man who spent his life immersed in the industry.
Read on for Clive Davis’ recommendations, and check out the book lists of other music legends here.
Clive Davis’ Reading List
Just Kids by Patti Smith (also rec’d by Carrie Brownstein, Dua Lipa, Ethan Hawke, Florence Welch, Malcolm Gladwell, Marianne Faithfull, Marina Abramovic, Michael Stipe, Shirley Manson & St. Vincent)
“This wonderful poetic exploration of two great young artists (Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe) richly deserved its National Book Award. Reading of their early life together is very touching and you have to be moved by the beautiful, unconventional love story.” -CD
Life by Keith Richards
“A fascinating picture of sex, drugs and rock and roll as lived by one of our greatest rock musicians. Telling his story with total candor and almost reckless energy, Keith Richards bares his soul as he takes you inside his life.” -CD
Finishing the Hat by Stephen Sondheim (also rec’d by David Byrne & David Copperfield)
“On two separate levels this book is compelling. One is a riveting window into the creative process of the great innovator of the American musical theater (Stephen Sondheim) and it’s coupled with a highly opinionated, very personal assessment of the great and near-great lyricists of the 20th century.” -CD
The Rest Is Noise by Alex Ross (also rec’d by David Byrne)
“The great music critic of The New Yorker delivers a penetrating survey of the most influential composers and music makers of the 20th century. It’s incredibly insightful as to the links between the great music of the 20th century and the culture that produced it. Schoenberg, Bernstein, Sibelius, Coltrane and The Beatles — they’re all here in a sweeping and dramatic narrative.” -CD
360 Sound by Sean Wilentz
“This is a gorgeous coffee table book on Columbia Records as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. It’s a very informative, beautifully assembled history of the venerable record company. The book also details the technological evolution of the LP to the arrival of the mp3.” -CD
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