Clarence Avant, whose unofficial title of the “Black Godfather” spanned the worlds of music, sports, entertainment and politics, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his family.
spanned the worlds of music, sports, entertainment and politics, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his family. No cause of death was provided; he was 92.
Avant’s list of accomplishments is long, broad, and varied. Initially a nightclub manager, he spent the 1960s managing the likes of Lalo Schifrin and Jimmy Smith. He went on to found two record labels, through which he gave the world Bill Withers, Sixto Rodriguez, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
Avant was born February 25, 1931 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Overcoming many of the challenges hardships of segregation, he grew to prominence starting in the 1960s managing the careers of Shifrin and Smith, along with pioneering blues artist Little Willie John, singer Sarah Vaughan and jazz producer Creed Taylor; the contract he negotiated with A&M Records for the latter put him on the music industry’s map as a dealmaker.
During the ‘80s he founded Tabu Records and released hits by the SOS Band, Alexander O’Neil and Cherrelle, among others. He also worked closely with then-budding hitmakers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis — helping to connect them with Janet Jackson to produce her 1986 breakthrough “Control” album — and advised L.A. Reid and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds on the launch of LaFace Records. He also was the promoter of Michael Jackson’s first-ever solo tour, the 1988 “Bad” tour.
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