Rod Stewart has shared a deeply emotional tribute following the passing of music industry titan Clive Davis, describing the loss as a moment he had long feared.
The 81-year-old singer posted a photograph on Instagram showing himself alongside Mr Davis, both holding a plaque commemorating his album The Great American Songbook, Volume II.
"Lost for words! A day I've been dreading!" Stewart wrote. "A giant of a man in the music business. I owe Clive so much."
The Maggie May performer credited Davis with being the sole believer in his ability to perform classic standards as a rock vocalist when other record companies dismissed the concept.
"Other labels rejected the idea, and so The Great American Songbook was born, selling close to 40 million copies," Mr Stewart added.
Mr Davis died peacefully on Monday at the age of 94, surrounded by family members at his home in New York, according to his longtime representative Aliza Rabinoff, who confirmed the news to Rolling Stone.
The cause was age-related illness.
The legendary executive founded J Records in 2000, a label that would become home to major artists including Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, Alicia Keys, Kesha, Maroon 5 and Leona Lewis.
Rod Stewart paid tribute to his late friend
| GETTYJ Records played a pivotal role in revitalising Mr Stewart's career by encouraging him to record albums featuring American standards.
"We had some wonderful, unforgettable times together, but for now, Mr. Davis, it's goodbye, my dear friend," Mr Stewart concluded in his tribute.
Fans responded with an outpouring of condolences, with many describing Mr Davis as irreplaceable and a tremendous loss to the music industry.
Numerous other music legends paid tribute to Mr Davis throughout Monday, acknowledging his profound impact on their careers.
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Rod Stewart shared a moving post about Clive Davis
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Bruce Springsteen mourned "the great record man and close friend," reflecting on their five-decade friendship that began in the 1970s.
"He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success," Springsteen wrote. "A great man."
Billy Joel expressed gratitude for Davis persuading him to join Columbia Records, praising his understanding of contemporary music's power and his recognition of songwriting's importance.
Carlos Santana described Davis as a "visionary" capable of perceiving "the intangible before anyone else could see it."
Clive Davis died following an illness
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Barry Manilow, who collaborated with Mr Davis on hits including Mandy over 50 years, called him "family."
Neil Diamond credited Davis with launching him into "the big leagues" after years on independent labels.
Mr Davis's influence extended across generations of performers during his decades-long career at the helm of major labels including Sony, Columbia and Arista.
In a 2014 interview, he reflected on his most cherished collaborations, singling out Whitney Houston as among the finest artists he had worked with.