Clarence Avant, 'Godfather of Black Entertainment' Dead at 92

Clarence Avant in October 2021.Photo:Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Clarence Avant, legendary music executive and film producer, has died. He was 92.

Avant, who was hailed as godfather of Black entertainment, died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, his family confirmed to PEOPLE.

“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” Avant’s children Nicole and Alex and son-in-law Ted Sarandos said in a statement. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports.”

“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss,” the statement concluded.

“One of my favorite Clarence-isms goes like this: ‘It is what it is, now what are you going to do about it?’ Today I’m choosing to honor and celebrate your incredible life and the legacy you’ve left behind,” daughter Nicole Avantwrote on Instagramin tribute to her father.

“It’s an honor to take your baton papa.  Our love is eternal. ❤️”

North Carolina native Avant began his career in the 1960s managing upcoming blues artists including Little Willie John, jazz organist Jimmy Smith and jazz producer Creed Taylor, whom he scored a record breaking deal for with A&M Records. By 1968, he engineered the sale of Stax Records, which closely followed behind the success of Motown Records.

Jacqueline and Clarence Avant.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

The producer, who was the first black owner of an FM radio station in LA after buying KAGB-FM, was responsible for securing many milestones for Black people in entertainment.

He is noted to have landed the ABC variety special for Muhammad Ali, with whom he worked with closely, and secured the largest endorsement deal in professional sports history with legendary baseball player Hank Aaron. Aaron later said that “without Clarence Avant, there is no Hank Aaron,” in the 2019 Netflix documentary filmThe Black Godfather,which depicted the story of Avant’s life.

In 1993, Avant became the chairman of Motown Records. He later ventured into political interests in his career as a prominent Democrat, having influence on PresidentsBarack Obama,Bill ClintonandJimmy Carter. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

Avant’s daughter Nicole recently released a memoir on grief after losing her mom.Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

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Avant’s death follows the killing of his wife Jacqueline during a home invasion in December 2021. In March 2022, a manpled guilty to the murderand to attempting to kill the philanthropist’s security guard during a robbery at her Beverly Hills home.

Avant and his wife’s daughter Nicolespoke to PEOPLEabout grieving over her mother before the release of her bookThink You’ll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude, which she described as “part memoir” in July.

“The book helped a lot,” Nicole, 55, told PEOPLE. “I was writing for quite some time, but I obviously changed after my mom’s death. Everyone says, ‘One day at a time.’ It was literally, for me, one minute at a time. I would literally have to say that to myself, ‘One minute at a time. Just one minute.’ Each minute, one minute.”

source: people.com