06/29/2026
“On behalf of the Living Legends Foundation, whose Board of Directors & Advisory Board are comprised of those who worked with Clive Davis at the highest levels, we salute and recognize his contribution to the Black Music culture as we close out .
He commissioned the Harvard Report, which became the blueprint and foundation for joint ventures (Stax, Philadelphia International, LaFace, Bad Boy and others) and the flourishing Black Music Divisions (BMD) of the 70’s thru the 2000’s. The BMD were significant because they empowered Black executives, giving them autonomy to foster an ecosystem that gave job opportunities to other Black men and women in the music business and the industries that support it, from stylists to caterers, concert promoters, publicists, limo services and so much more. This is what often gets lost in the discussion about the impact of the Harvard Report.
Clive believed in the power of the song.
He didn’t care about good songs, he cared about hit songs. He believed in the single and believed an album needed to be full of hit singles, not 2 hits and 8 fillers.
So as the industry celebrates the man with The Golden Ear, as one of his former VPs & the Chairman of the Living Legends Foundation, we salute the visionary who hired Black executives, who themselves became legends like: Gerry Griffith, Tony Anderson, Glynice Coleman, Doug Daniels, Jean Riggins, Lionel Ridenour, Jackie Rhinehart, Ken Wilson and others.
Yes, he knew music was a business, he also knew hiring good, smart Black executives was good for business and that Black music is good business.
Clive, thank you and rest in peace!”
✍🏾: David C Linton
📸: taken at Clive’s 90th birthday party
