by Clive Davis
First published 2013
Clive Davis opens his life story with remarkable candor. The legendary music executive traces his journey from orphaned high school student surviving on scholarships to becoming the most influential figure in popular music history. Davis chronicles his discovery and development of iconic artists including Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Simon and Garfunkel, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Dionne Warwick, Carlos Santana, The Grateful Dead, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and Aretha Franklin. He details his rise through the music industry, weathering false embezzlement accusations, and founding his own label J Records. Davis provides an insider's perspective on how the music business evolved over fifty years. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient shares previously untold stories ranging from hilarious to heartbreaking. His account illuminates the personal relationships and business decisions that shaped popular music for generations.
Genres: business, non-fiction, biography-memoir, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, rags-to-riches
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
608 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster