Music Mogul Clive Davis's Secret to Stardom

Clive Davis, a dominant figure in the music industry for fifty years, now serves as Chief Creative Officer at Sony Music. His remarkable career, which began unexpectedly after he was a lawyer with no prior music knowledge, is chronicled in the documentary 'Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives.' The film is set to open the Tribeca Film Festival with a concert featuring artists he has championed.

Davis revealed that his success stemmed from a natural, albeit previously unknown, gift for identifying artists with long-term star potential and songs that could become enduring hits. He acknowledges that a significant part of his career is built on luck and fate, coupled with a persistent, innate sense of worry that guides his decision-making towards the correct conclusions.

The documentary highlights Davis's involvement in pivotal musical moments, such as choosing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as a single and advocating for the initial version of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." He also discusses navigating challenges, including being fired from Columbia Records and his past implication in a payola scandal, for which he felt unfairly smeared.

Even at 85, Davis remains actively engaged in discovering new talent and producing music. He is currently seeking hits for Jennifer Hudson and Avery Wilson, and developing a concept album for Johnny Mathis. Davis expresses his continued passion for the business, finding it fulfilling, and enjoys his annual Grammy party tradition.