Clarence Alexander Avant, is an American music executive, film producer and entrepreneur. He has been featured as a producer on several great music and movies. He was awarded the Trustees Award in February 2008 by the National Association of Recording Arts and Science. Clarence was honored on October 7, 2016, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for his enormous contributions in the recording industry. He also received the President’s Merit Award as a Grammy Icon at the Clive Davis, Pre Grammy Gala in Los Angeles.
Clarence Avant Bio
Clarence Alexander Avant, 25th February, 1931 in Climax North Carolina. He has seven other siblings making eight children with him being the oldest.
Clarence began in the music business in the 1950s as a manager of Teddy P’s Lounge in Newark, New Jersey. He moved to New Jersey in 1947 as a teenager and worked as a stock clerk at Macy’s. Avant managed jazz singers, R&B singers, rock and roll pioneer Tom Wilson amongst others.
Avant moved from Manhattan to Beverly Hills to work with Venture Records Incorporated in 1967. He stayed there till 1969 when MGM Records shut down the label and it joint ventures.
Clarence founded Sussex Records on December 18, 1969. The company went out of business in June 1975, with the IRS seizing and auctioning off all assets because of $48,000 in federal tax liens.
Mr. Clarence Avant is popularly known as The Black Godfather or godfather of Black music. He was given this name due to his contributions to black music in the early 1990’s.
Clarence Avant Age
Clarence Avant is presently 92 years old.
Clarence Avant Height
Mr. Clarence Avant stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches tall.
Clarence Avant Education
Clarence attended a one-room school in Greensboro, North Carolina until the ninth grade. He spent his freshman and second years of high school at Dudley High School in Greensboro. Then he moved to New Jersey as a teenager.
Clarence Avant Parents
Very little information has ever been given about his parents but just the name of his mother, Gertrude Avant.
Gertrude Avant was born on 18 August 1911, in Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina, United States of America. There is no record of his father.
Clarence Avant Siblings
It has been reported that, Clarence is the oldest of eight children. This means he has seven siblings. His siblings are Ann Avant, Brenda Avant, William Avant, Paul Avant, Weldon Avant, Linda Woods and Harold Avant.
Clarence Avant Wife
The veteran music producer was married to Jacqueline Avant. The couple got married in 1967. Jacqueline was fatally shot in her home during a robbery. She was pronounced dead upon getting to the hospital. She was 81 years. The couple give birth to two children.
Clarence Avant Children
The Black godfather and his wife, Jacqueline Avant gave birth to two children, Alexander Avant and Nicole Avant. Alexander followed the footsteps of his father and turned out to be a music producer and actor whiles Nicole is currently married to the CEO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos.
Clarence Avant Net Worth
The Black godfather, Clarence Avant is reported to be very comfortable when it comes to finances. He is estimated to be worth more than $50 million.
Must Read: Clarence Avant children: Meet Nicole Avant and Alexander Devore Avant
Esther