Bruce Springsteen Pays Tribute to the Late Music Legend Clive Davis
The music industry is mourning legendary industry executive Clive Davis, who died Monday, June 22, at 94.
Among the many artists who are paying tribute is Bruce Springsteen, whose career was hugely influenced by Davis.
"Over here on E Street, we mourn the death of the great record man and close friend Clive Davis," Springsteen shared on Instagram. "At 22 years old, he changed my life when he signed me to Columbia Records. He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success. A great man. All our prayers and love."
Clive Davis was head of Columbia Records when he auditioned a young Springsteen. While he was in his early 20s and inexperienced, the music mogul could already see how talented he was as a songwriter.
"When I signed Bruce Springsteen, it had zero to do with live performance," Davis told People in 2022. "He just stood there. When he auditioned for me, he just stood and played the guitar and sang his songs."
Davis watched The Boss rehearsing and gave him advice on how to fill up a stage the size of Radio City Music Hall. "I'm alone in the theater, and I walk up to the stage and I say to him, 'It's the first time I've seen you on a large stage. It's usually at small clubs and I never knew if you'd move or not. Would you consider" - you've got to be delicate - 'would you consider [moving]? Something to consider.'"
"I said, 'Don't do it if it's not natural for you, but I know that the potential of the songs would lend itself to more physical movement on your part,'" he added. Of course, now Springsteen is one of the most beloved live entertainers.
Clive Davis also used some tough love in the making of Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. which transformed the trajectory of Springsteen's career. When he listened to the album, he didn't hear anything he thought could be a chart hit, so he told the New Jersey native to make something more commercial.
"Springsteen was a mature guy, even though he was young," said Davis, per the BBC. "He said, 'OK, if that's the way it works, let me go back and think about it.'
"And he came back and said, 'That was a good call. I wrote Blinded By The Light and Spirit In The Night.'" While these songs weren't huge hits for the musician, they proved Springsteen had an eye for a hit.
Related: Bruce Springsteen Ranked Among 'Best Songs of 2026' - But Falls Short of No. 1
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 4:57 PM.