Clive Davis Reveals Bisexuality in His New Memoir

"Having only had loving relationships and sexual intimacy with women, I opened myself up to the possibility that I could have that with a male, and found that I could."

Clive Davis' new memoir is jam-packed with anecdotes about a range of stars that include Janis Joplin, Santana, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston, which is not surprising since he's credited with discovering some of the most iconic musical acts of his time in a career that spans five decades.

But Davis' most candid revelation has nothing do with any of his high-profile talents. In fact, it has nothing to do with music.

The music mogul reveals in the last chapter of the 600-page autobiography, "The Soundtrack of My Life" that he is bisexual.

"For over fifty years, I never had sex with a male," he told Nightline in an interview. "I wasn't repressed. I just had very good sexual relationships with women."

Davis, 80, has been sexually involved with men since the end of his second marriage in 1985, he said. In the memoir, he talks about grappling with his sexual identity in a period of "soul searching and self-analysis" and how coming out affected his relationship with one of his sons. Davis has three sons, a daughter and six grandchildren.

"After my second marriage failed, I met a man who was also grounded in music. Having only had loving relationships and sexual intimacy with women, I opened myself up to the possibility that I could have that with a male, and found that I could," he told USA Today.

In the past 20 years, Davis has been in relationships with two men: a doctor for 13 years and seven years with a man he does not name. But he insists that he's never stopped being attracted to women.

"Bisexuality is misunderstood," he said in the interview with USA Today. "The adage is that you're either straight or gay or lying, but that's not my experience. To call me anything other than bisexual would be inaccurate."

Davis also dedicates a whole chapter to Whitney Houston, one of his most high profile clients, who died last year on the day of his famous pre-Grammy party. He recounts stories about their collaborations and includes two letters he wrote to Houston.

"She had flashes of understanding. I spent an afternoon with her a few days before she died, and she couldn't have been more vital. She played me music and promised that she would cut out cigarette smoking — I'd been relentless in telling her to do that. She was full of life, and looking back, it makes you feel so helpless," Davis said.

Most of "The Soundtrack of My Life," co-written with Rolling Stone contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis, details Davis' music career after 1975 as the founder of Arista and J Records. Memorable scenes pepper the memoir and reflects the close relationships he had with his music stars: Janis Joplin offered to perform a sexual act with him; Bob Dylan considered Davis' suggestion of changing the title to his classic album "Nashville Skyline;" Kelly Clarkson bursted out in "hysterical laughter" over his music suggestions.

But even with such a colorful career, Davis says it's far from over. His future plans include an album of "diva standards" with Aretha Franklin and a Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady."

Contact Us