There are very few people in the history of this industry whose fingerprints can be found across every generation of Black music. Clive Davis was one of them. He had an extraordinary ability to recognize greatness, often before the rest of the world did, and he never hesitated to invest in artists whose voices would go on to define culture. From Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin to Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Hudson, Earth, Wind & Fire, and so many others, Clive understood that Black music wasn’t simply a genre. It was one of America’s greatest cultural gifts to the world. His legacy extends far beyond the countless hits, awards, and record-breaking careers. It lives in the opportunities he created, the artists he believed in, and the generations of executives, producers, songwriters, and creators who were inspired by his unwavering pursuit of excellence. The music industry, and our culture, are better because Clive Davis chose to lead with vision, conviction, and an unc...