Clive Davis: All His No. 1 Hits on the Billboard Hot 100, From Whitney Houston to Simon & Garfunkel
Categoria: Musica
Davis enjoyed 11 No. 1 hits by Houston on his label Arista, more than any other artist.
Por Billboard | 22/06/2026
Clive Davis was a chart enthusiast even before he became a music industry legend. In his 1974 biography Clive: Inside the Record Business (which he co-wrote with James Willwerth), he explained his fascination with charts, which, he said, grew out of an earlier fascination with baseball statistics and Variety ’s lists of top box-office hits. Related Clive Davis, Legendary Music Executive, Dies at 94 Lewis Capaldi Says New Album Is in the Works During TRNSMT Set Goose Pays Tribute to Fan Who Died at MSG Concert: 'Life Is Fragile' “It was an extension of the star syndrome,” he wrote, “measuring how singers did against each other, watching their songs climb the Hit Parade. I was a reader of charts and statistics, and I found an excitement in them which is hard to explain, as if they represented a form of energy .” (Emphasis in the original.) Since Davis was a chart fan to begin with, imagine what a kick it must have been for him to see his companies’ records ascend to the top spot on Billboard Hot 100, especially in the nearly four decades that he directly oversaw day-to-day operations at a succession of labels: CBS (Columbia and Epic), Arista and J Records. According to Davis’ official bio, the exec was appointed vp and general manager of Columbia Records in 1966. In 1967, he was named president of the company. He oversaw Columbia and Epic and, in the early 1970s, signed a deal with Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff’s famed Philadelphia International Records, which had two No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 in 1972-73. Davis was fired from CBS in May 1973 for reasons that have never been entirely clear, but which most certainly had nothing to do with his ability to do the job. Afterwards, he wasted no time in re-establishing his career: In January 1975, his Arista Records (named after his high school honors society) landed its first No. 1 Hot 100 hit with Barry Manilow ’s “Mandy.” Again, Davis signed agreements that brought in more talent, especially in the burgeoning Black music area. He made an agreement with L.A. Reid and Babyface to form LaFace Records in October 1989. And in 1994, Davis and producer/entrepreneur Sean “Puffy” Combs (later known as Diddy) entered into a 50/50 joint venture that resulted in the creation of Bad Boy Records. Related Clive Davis Career Timeline: A Journey Through the Music Industry Icon’s Greatest Accomplishments In 2000, Davis was forced out of Arista for age reasons (he was 68 at the time). But again, he wasted no time in re-establishing himself. That same year, he formed J Records (Jay was his middle name), which in August 2001 landed its first No. 1 Hot 100 hit with Alicia Keys ’ “Fallin’.” (Both Manilow’s “Mandy” and “Fallin’” received Grammy nods for record of the year. In addition, “Fallin’” won song of the year.) In November 2002, Davis became president/CEO of the RCA Music Group, assuming responsibility for RCA, Jive, Arista, LaFace and J. In April 2008, he was appointed chief creativ