NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� No music executive has ever been so powerful as to become synonymous with the whole of the music industry itself. But if anyone came close,
The record company lawyer who became one of the music industry鈥檚 most powerful figures, launching or resurrecting as Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana and Alicia Keys, it was announced Monday. He was 94.
The greatest way to celebrate the 鈥渕an with the golden ears,鈥� as he was colloquially known, is to listen to the musicians and songs he was instrumental in turning into career artists and timeless hits, from starting his career at Columbia Records in the 1960s to today.
Read on below and then listen to all 10 songs on The Associated Press’
Whitney Houston, (1992)
The story is the stuff of music industry legend. Apparently, Davis and producer David Foster fought bitterly over the arrangement for all-time hit, a cover of Dolly Parton鈥檚 鈥淚 Will Always Love You.鈥� Davis wanted the final version of the song to feature its iconic 40-second a cappella intro, an experiment suggested by Houston’s 鈥淏odyguard鈥� co-star Kevin Costner. Foster did not. Davis won out in the end.
Santana ft. Rob Thomas, (1999)
It was Davis who conceived of 1999 album, 鈥淪upernatural,鈥� which paired guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana with some of the day鈥檚 hottest talents. The record won eight Grammys and gave Carlos more success than he had ever enjoyed in his decades-long career. At its center is 鈥淪mooth鈥� with Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas, a track Carlos originally hated but Davis convinced him otherwise 鈥� as he is wont to do.
Aretha Franklin, (1985)
had long been a star before joining Davis at Arista Records later in her career. But by the early ’80s, as her commercial success had faded amid changing musical tastes, he helped revitalize her career. 鈥淔reeway of Love,鈥� an R&B-pop track from her 1985 record 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Zoomin’ Who?鈥� brought her back to the top of conversation. Their partnership was one for the books; it’s no wonder she once referred to him as 鈥渢he greatest record man of all time.鈥�
Big Brother and the Holding Company ft. Janis Joplin, (1967)
As the story goes, attending the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967 was pivotal for a young Davis, who became so enamored with the performances that they transformed his approach to running Columbia Records. He’d just been named president of the label and used his power to bring a counterculture spirit to a company that had resisted rock 鈥榥鈥� roll. But of the lineup, no act resonated with Davis quite like Big Brother, and in particular, the soulful singer Janis Joplin. Their partnership began then, when he took 鈥淧iece of My Heart” 鈥� suggested a chorus be added and its run time and instrumentals be shortened 鈥� turning it into a No. 1 hit.
Bruce Springsteen, (1973)
Davis was an early adopter of Springsteen, as he was of many artists across his career. He gave the young singer-songwriter from New Jersey a chance in his early 鈥�20s and inspired him to write the everlasting single, 鈥淏linded by the Light,鈥� from his 1973 debut album, 鈥淕reetings from Asbury Park, N.J.鈥� It would sound like the stuff of mythology if it weren鈥檛 true.
Alicia Keys, (2001)
It’s not so much that Davis had a role in the debut single from the nascent, big-voiced but he was one of her first and most ardent supporters. He signed her to his J Records and helped make her the star she is today. He saw her greatness immediately and at the very beginning.
Barry Manilow, (1974)
Over fifty years ago, Davis threw a party to celebrate the release of Arista Records鈥� first Grammy record of the year nominee: Barry Manilow鈥檚 鈥淢andy.鈥� showed up. So did John Denver and Elton John. What was a one-off celebration for an enduring hit morphed into one of the best-known and most exclusive parties of the year: the annual hosted by Davis, held every year on the Saturday before the Sunday award show 鈥� including this year, But his fabulous gala was not the only reason this song is included here: it is evidence of Davis鈥� ability to identify a hit and pair it with the right artist. He gave 鈥淢andy鈥� to Manilow, and the rest is history.
Billy Joel, (1973)
shared a tribute to Davis on his Instagram account on Monday, writing, 鈥淐live Davis convinced me to sign with Columbia Records many years ago. He recognized the talent of great musicians and understood the power of contemporary music.鈥� The album that he released immediately after said signing? 鈥淧iano Man.鈥� Not bad work, Davis.
Milli Vanilli, (1989)
Like every major music exec, Davis’ aim wasn’t 100% all the time 鈥� though he was a lot more accurate than most. His Arista label had huge success with country superstars Brooks & Dunn, R&B group TLC, singer-songwriter and producer Babyface, Houston, Franklin and more. He also knocked it out of the park with . The pair would soon become the embarrassment of the industry when, after winning a Grammy, it was revealed that they weren鈥檛 actually singing their songs. That didn’t stop 鈥淏lame It on the Rain鈥� from becoming a huge hit.
Kelly Clarkson, (2004)
Davis and had a complicated relationship. Davis said he found 鈥淪ince U Been Gone鈥� for Clarkson, one of the biggest songs of her career, though he wrote in his memoir that she didn’t want to record it originally. Clarkson says it is because she was told she would cowrite the song, but by the time she got to Sweden to work with producers and songwriters Max Martin and Dr. Luke, it had already been completed. It’s both yet another example of Davis’ keen ear 鈥� and his fallibility.
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