The 28 Greatest Artists Signed by Clive Davis

From raw blues talent to polished pop royalty, his roster spanned six decades and launched some of the biggest careers in music history. Legends, hidden gems, and era-defining voices — who stands tallest? Cast your vote!

1

Whitney Houston

Discovered by Davis at age 19 in a NYC nightclub in 1983, she became one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

1000pts

2

Bruce Springsteen

American rock icon signed by Davis at Columbia Records, known as 'The Boss' for anthems celebrating working-class America.

714pts

3

Blood, Sweat & Tears

Brass rock pioneers signed by Davis at Columbia Records who won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1970.

636pts

4

Carrie Underwood

Country pop star whose career was shaped by Davis at Arista Nashville Records, becoming one of the best-selling country artists of all time.

636pts

5

Eurythmics

Synth-pop duo featuring Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart who signed to Arista Records under Davis and dominated the 1980s charts.

584pts

6

Kenny G

Smooth jazz saxophonist whose debut on Arista Records under Davis made him one of the best-selling instrumentalists of all time.

584pts

7

Outkast

Genre-defying hip-hop duo from Atlanta signed through Davis's LaFace Records, known for boundary-pushing albums like 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.'

524pts

8

Kelly Clarkson

American Idol winner whose recording career was guided by Davis at RCA/Arista Records into multiple Grammy-winning pop-rock albums.

524pts

9

Usher

R&B and pop superstar whose early career was shaped by Davis through LaFace Records, going on to sell over 80 million records.

524pts

10

Billy Joel

Piano-driven rock legend signed by Davis at Columbia Records, one of the best-selling solo artists in history.

524pts

11

Janis Joplin

Blues-rock legend signed to Columbia Records by Davis, known for her raw, powerful voice and counterculture era performances.

454pts

12

Pink

Pop-rock artist signed through Davis's LaFace Records who evolved into one of the most enduring live performers of the 2000s.

454pts

13

Patti Smith

Punk rock poet and avant-garde pioneer signed by Davis to Arista Records, later dubbed the 'punk poet laureate.'

454pts

14

Alicia Keys

R&B singer-songwriter launched by Davis at J Records, winning five Grammys on debut album 'Songs in A Minor.'

372pts

15

Dionne Warwick

Pop and soul legend whose career enjoyed a major revival under Davis at Arista Records in the 1970s and 1980s.

372pts

16

Earth, Wind & Fire

Funk and soul innovators signed by Davis at Columbia Records, blending R&B, jazz, gospel, and pop into a revolutionary sound.

372pts

17

Sly and the Family Stone

Funk and soul pioneers signed by Davis at Columbia Records whose music defined the sound of late 1960s counterculture.

372pts

18

Chicago

Jazz-rock fusion band signed by Davis at Columbia Records who became one of the most commercially successful American rock bands.

372pts

19

Aerosmith

Hard rock legends developed by Davis at Columbia Records who became one of America's greatest rock bands across six decades.

272pts

20

Daryl Hall & John Oates

The best-selling duo in rock history, brought to Arista Records by Davis with a string of blue-eyed soul hits in the 1980s.

272pts

21

TLC

R&B and new jack swing trio signed through Davis's LaFace Records joint venture, becoming one of the best-selling girl groups ever.

272pts

22

Aretha Franklin

The 'Queen of Soul' whose later career was revitalized under Davis at Arista Records, earning her dozens of Grammy Awards.

272pts

23

Toni Braxton

Silky R&B contralto launched by Davis through LaFace Records, selling over 70 million records with signature torch songs.

272pts

24

Barry Manilow

Chart-topping vocalist launched by Davis at Arista Records, known for polished pop ballads and sell-out live performances.

151pts

25

Neil Diamond

Iconic singer-songwriter and showman signed by Davis at Columbia Records, known for timeless pop classics and record-breaking touring.

151pts

26

Santana

Latin rock pioneers signed to Columbia months before their iconic 1969 Woodstock performance, blending rock with Afro-Cuban rhythms.

151pts

27

Sarah McLachlan

Canadian singer-songwriter launched by Davis at Arista Records, known for introspective pop and founding the landmark Lilith Fair festival.

151pts

28

Lou Reed

Velvet Underground founder and avant-garde rock pioneer signed by Davis to Arista Records, influencing generations of alternative artists.

151pts