The 2014 Malloy Lecture in the Arts brought music mogul Clive Davis to Westport. Davis is a Grammy Award-winning producer, Artists & Repertoire (A&R) executive and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the only non-performer along with other legends such as Eric Clapton, Earth, Wind & Fire and James Taylor. From 1967 to 1973, Davis was the president of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975 through 2000 until founding J Records. From 2002 until April 2008, Davis was the chairman and CEO of the RCA Music Group.

Davis is credited with launching the careers of artists that achieved superstar status, such as Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Billy Joel, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Loggins & Messina, Aerosmith, Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and Daryl Hall and John Oates to name just a few.