Clarence Avant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarence Avant
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Clarence Alexander Avant |
| Born | February 25, 1931 Climax, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | August 13, 2023 (aged 92) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Labels | Venture Records Inc. Sussex Records Tabu Records Motown Records |
| Associated acts | Bill Withers Dennis Coffey Gallery The SOS Band Cherrelle Alexander O'Neal Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Sixto Rodriguez Quincy Jones |
Clarence Alexander Avant (born February 25, 1931 – died August 13, 2023) was a very important American music executive. He was also a successful businessman and film producer. Many people called him "The Black Godfather" because of his huge influence in the entertainment world.
Contents
Clarence Avant's Life Story
His Early Career
Clarence Alexander Avant was born in Climax, North Carolina, on February 25, 1931. He was the oldest of eight children. He went to a small one-room school until the eighth grade.
Later, he moved to New Jersey in 1947 as a teenager. There, he worked at a department store and for a law company. In the 1950s, he started working in the music business. He managed a lounge in Newark, New Jersey, called Teddy P's Lounge.
A famous music manager named Joe Glaser became Avant's mentor. Glaser had managed Louis Armstrong, a legendary jazz musician. Avant learned a lot from Glaser about the music industry.
Avant later managed many talented artists. These included R&B singer Little Willie John and jazz singers like Sarah Vaughan. He also worked with jazz musicians such as Wynton Kelly and Freddie Hubbard.
In 1962, Avant started his own company, Avant Garde Enterprises, Inc. He helped his clients get movie soundtrack jobs. He also advised groups like the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA).
Starting Venture Records
In 1967, Clarence Avant helped create Venture Records Inc. This was a special company because it was the first time an African American artist had a joint venture with a major record company. A "joint venture" means two companies work together on a project.
Venture Records was created to help soul music artists from MGM Records. Avant moved to Beverly Hills to work with this new company.
In 1968, Avant also helped sell Stax Records to a larger company. This deal was worth $4.3 million. Avant played a key role in making this happen.
Sussex Records Inc.
After Venture Records closed, Avant started Sussex Records in 1969 in Los Angeles. A record label helps artists record and release their music.
Sussex Records signed famous artists like Bill Withers, who sang "Lean on Me." They also signed guitarist Dennis Coffey and the band Gallery.
The company faced financial difficulties and eventually closed down in 1975. Its assets, including recording masters, were sold.
Sussex Records was mentioned in the documentary Searching for Sugar Man. The film talked about how royalties from Sixto Rodriguez's music sales went to Sussex Records.
Avant Garde Broadcasting
Clarence Avant also made history in radio. In 1973, his company, Avant Garde Broadcasting, Inc., bought the first African-American owned FM radio station in the Los Angeles area.
The station was called KTYM-FM in Inglewood, California. Avant renamed it KAGB-FM. This was a big step for African Americans in media ownership.
However, the radio station faced financial challenges and eventually had to close. Clarence Avant lost a significant amount of money in the process.
Save the Children Film
In 1973, Avant was the executive producer for a film called Save the Children. The film showed performances by top Black entertainers.
It also showed images of Black people, especially children, in difficult situations. The movie premiered at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Awards and Recognition
Clarence Avant received many important awards for his work.
- In 2008, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences gave him the Trustees Award.
- In 2016, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is at 6363 Hollywood Boulevard.
- In 2018, he got the President's Merit Award as a Grammy Icon.
- In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Ahmet Ertegun award. Famous people like Bill Withers, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barack Obama spoke about his impact.
His Family Life
In 1967, Clarence Avant married Jacqueline "Jackie" Alberta Gray. They had two children, Nicole and Alexander. Nicole Avant later became a United States Ambassador. She is married to Netflix executive Ted Sarandos.
Jackie Avant was also very active in her community. She was involved with groups that supported child care centers. She also served on the board of directors for the International Student Center at UCLA. Jackie Avant passed away in 2021 at the age of 81.
Clarence Avant passed away at his home in Los Angeles on August 13, 2023. He was 92 years old.
