The Clive Davis Correspondence consists of letters between Clive Davis and various Arista and RCA recording artists and executives, spanning the years 1963 to 2001. In the correspondence, Davis and the artists discuss songs, lyrics, albums, and videos, as well as critical reception of the artists' works, touring arrangements, record deals, and contracts. There are handwritten notes from several artists, including Aretha Franklin, Kenny G., Barry Manilow, Carlos Santana, and Carly Simon. The collection presents a sample of late 20th century American popular music, provides perspective on the artistic decisions and business practices of the sound recording industry during that period, and illustrates the relationships between recording artists and executives. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by artist name, with a folder of miscellaneous letters and clippings at the end.
Biography / Administrative History
A Harvard Law School graduate, Clive Davis joined the CBS Records Division as a contract lawyer in 1960. A savvy negotiator, Davis quickly gained the attention of his superiors and within a few short years had earned the top spot at Columbia Records. After attending the Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967, Davis saw the monumental impact of rock music on society--and its enormous moneymaking potential. Shortly afterwards, he signed Big Brother and the Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin) to Columbia, following with some of the biggest acts of the era, including Aerosmith, Blood Sweat & Tears, Billy Joel, and Bruce Springsteen. Davis was fired for misuse of company funds in 1973, but in 1974 founded Arista Records, where he ushered in a new era of pop music with the likes of Sean "Puffy" Combs, Whitney Houston, Alan Jackson, and Sarah McLachlan. Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 receiving the Ahmet Ertegan Award.
Notes
Citation: [Identification of item], Clive Davis Correspondence, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Processing Information: Processed by Christine Borne, Project Archivist. Completed June 17, 2010. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.
Acquisition Note: The Clive Davis Correspondence was received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. as a gift from RCA Music Group, a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, on June 3, 2005. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. transferred the collection to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. on March 31, 2011.
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Please contact reference staff before visiting the Library and Archives to use this collection.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
