Clarence Avant, “The Black Godfather,” Has Died at 92

Clarence Avant, who shaped the careers of many artists including Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Bill Withers has passed away at the age of 92.

Avant’s family announced the news in a statement.

“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” the statement from his children, Nicole and Alexander and son-in-law Ted Sarandos. “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.  Clarence passed away gently at home in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 13, 2023.”

A cause of death hasn’t been revealed.

Clarence Avant, who many titled him the “Black Godfather,” impacted many careers in music, sports, politics, and the entertainment industry. For a Black man who was born in a segregated hospital in the small town of Climax, North Carolina, he made quite a name for himself while changing the views of many in a divided world.

He begin 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. 

Avant’s network continued to grow once he moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s and established his own record companies Sussex Records and Tabu Records — both of which are credited for the early formations of hip-hop in their releases.

Other artists Avant worked with are Quincy Jones, Pharrell Williams, Lionel Richie, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, L.A. Reid, Snoop Dogg, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and Michael Jackson’s which he promoted his first ever solo “Bad” tour.

Avant was also the first black owner of an FM radio station in LA after buying KAGB-FM.

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

He persuaded NFL star Jim Brown to launch an acting career. 

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 Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. 

He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2016. The star in the category of Recording is located at 6363 Hollywood Boulevard next to the star of music producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis who he worked with for many years. Guest speakers at the ceremony were Irving Azoff, Jamie Foxx, Jimmy Jam Harris & Terry Lewis, Quincy Jones, and Bill Withers, who passed away in March 2020.

Avant’s death comes two years after the murder of his wife, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, who was shot and killed during a home invasion at the age of 81 by an intruder at her Beverly Hills home. A suspect was later arrested and in March 2022 he pled guilty to the murder and attempted murder of their security guard. Clarence and Jacqueline Avant were married for 54 years.

In a 2016 interview with Variety, Avant referenced his mentor, former Louis Armstrong and Barbra Streisand manager Joe Glaser, when asked about the breadth of his ambitions. “It all goes back to something Joe Glaser taught me: aim high,” he said. “You can’t walk up the Empire State building — you’ll get tired, your knees might give out. But you can ride the elevator and walk down. You always aim up here, and walk down later if you have to.”

“My whole career has been like this,” he added. “People ask me, ‘how did you do all this?’ How the f— do I know? I just do things. I just like to take shots.”

Rest in peace with your beautiful Queen, Godfather.