The ‘Godfather of Black Music’ Clarence Avant has handed away on the age of 92, virtually two years after his spouse was killed in a house invasion.
Avant was a Grammy-winning govt, live performance promoter and supervisor who served as president of the legendary Motown Records within the Nineties.
Throughout his profession as a performing musician, he has helped artists equivalent to Bill Withers, Little Willie John, LA Reid, Babyface, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Avant’s daughter, Nicole, 55, is at present married to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. Nicole additionally served as ambassador to the Bahamas, appointed in 2009 by then-President Barack Obama.
The ‘Godfather of Black Music’ Clarence Avant has died aged 92, practically two years after his spouse (left) was killed in a house invasion
Ted Sarandos and his father-in-law Clarence Avant attended the thirty sixth Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021
Jay-Z, Clarence Avant and Sean Combs, higher generally known as P Diddy, pictured collectively in 2020
Music Executive Clarence Avant and his spouse Jacqueline Avant attend a ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 7, 2016
Lionel Richie presents Clarence Avant with the Ahmet Ertegun Award on stage in October 2021
The life and legacy of the Motown contest was chronicled in 2019 by his son-in-law Sarandos’ streaming service, in a documentary titled The Black Godfather.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame described Avant as “cool, savvy, confident and fearless – someone who makes the impossible possible.
“He has held a variety of roles throughout his illustrious career, including manager, label owner, concert organizer, event producer, political fundraiser and mentor.”
Avant’s profession started within the Nineteen Fifties when he was supervisor of Little Willie John and jazz organist Jimmy Smith.
At the tip of 1969 he launched Sussex Records, a label that shortly achieved a Top Ten hit with Dennis Coffey’s Scorpio. The most notable Sussex artist was Bill Withers, who launched his first three information for the label, which included the hits Ain’t No Sunshine, Lean on Me and Use Me.
“In 1971, Avant launched Avant Garde Broadcasting, one of the country’s first black radio stations.”
The legendary exec was additionally an completed producer and actor – identified for Deliver Us from Evil in 1975, The Color Purple in 1985 and Jason’s Lyric in 1994.
In 2016, he acquired a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This is a breaking information story.