Clive Davis Dies at 94, Prompting Stevie Wonder Tribute

Q: Clive Davis launched countless stars, but which future legends did his 'golden ears' famously fail to hear?

The names most often cited are **Meat Loaf and Elvis Costello**. Despite Clive Davis’s reputation as “the man with the golden ears,” retrospective accounts of his career frequently point to those two misses as notable exceptions. Meat Loaf is the best-documented example: Davis reportedly passed on *Bat Out of Hell*, judging it too theatrical and doubting its commercial appeal, only for it to become one of the best-selling albums of all time. Some accounts also mention **John Mellencamp** as one of the artists Davis later said he regretted missing. But in the context of the question about the future legends his instincts “famously failed to hear,” the answer most consistently given is **Meat Loaf and Elvis Costello**.

3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 22

Clive Davis died at 94, prompting Stevie Wonder to reflect on the music producer's life and legacy in a CNN segment.
Stevie Wonder's remarks framed Davis as a legendary figure in the industry, focusing on his influence and enduring impact on music.
The tribute centers on Davis's stature as a producer whose career left a broad legacy now being remembered following his death.