Rob Thomas Credits Clive Davis for 12-Week No. 1 in Rolling Stone Tribute

2 articles · Updated · MusicRadar · Jun 24

Rob Thomas used a Rolling Stone essay to argue Clive Davis's instinct-driven decisions shaped "Smooth," recalling Davis backed Thomas as singer instead of bigger-name options like George Michael or Jon Bon Jovi.
"Smooth" then spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Santana's "Supernatural"—built around cross-generational collaborations Davis championed—went on to sell 30 million copies.
Thomas cited another Davis call on Santana's 2002 album "Shaman," saying Davis passed on a Tina Turner version of "The Game of Love" before Michelle Branch recorded the eventual release.
Calling Davis's death "the end of an era," Thomas said modern labels lean on fan-base reports and algorithms, while Davis trusted his own taste even when others around him disagreed.