11 Essential Songs Shepherded by Clive DavisClive Davis, the legendary record executive who died on Monday, is remembered through 11 essential songs he helped shepherd during his influential tenures at Columbia, Arista, and J Records. Known for his passion for hits — especially those he personally masterminded — Davis had a remarkable career spanning decades, with highlights including his pivotal attendance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and his role in shaping iconic albums like Santana's "Supernatural," where he assured Carlos Santana that "Smooth" would be the most important song on the album — a prediction that proved correct as it spent three months at No. 1.bsky·Jun 23, 2026
