Celebrity
Clarence Avant, ‘Godfather of Black Music’ and benefactor of athletes and politicians, dies at 92
NEW YORK — The wise manager, businessman, facilitator, and consultant Clarence Avant, who launched or shaped the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers, and many others and became known as “The Godfather of Black Music,” has passed away. He was 92.
A family announcement on Monday morning stated that Avant, who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, passed away on Sunday at his Los Angeles home.
As a name in the credits or a name behind the names, Avant’s accomplishments were visible and unnoticed. He was raised by a mentor who was a music manager named Joe Glaser and was born in a segregated hospital in North Carolina. Joe Glaser gave him two pieces of advice: never reveal how much you know and ask for as much money as possible “without stuttering.”
He made his management debut in the 1950s, working with artists including Little Willie John, Sarah Vaughan, and composer Lalo Schifrin, who created the theme song for “Mission: Impossible.” He was an early supporter of Black-owned radio stations in the 1970s, and after Berry Gordy Jr. sold the business in the 1990s, he became the head of Motown.
Additionally, he founded the labels Sussex (a cross between two Avant-garde passions: success and sex), Tabu, and the S.O.S Band, as well as working with obscure singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriquez, who would later go on to become well-known thanks to the Oscar-winning documentary “Searching for Sugarman.”
Other work was done more quietly. In 1968, Avant, who Stax CEO Al Bell had chosen to serve as a link between the entertainment and business worlds, facilitated the sale of Stax Records to Gulf and Western. He helped Michael Jackson plan his first solo tour, raised money for Bill Clinton and Obama, and advised Babyface, L.A. Reid, Narada Michael Walden, and other younger followers.
If they’re clever, everyone in this profession has visited Clarence’s desk, as Quincy Jones loved to say.
The wise manager, businessman, facilitator, and consultant Clarence Avant has died. He was 92.
“Clarence leaves behind a devoted family and a large network of friends and colleagues who have transformed the world and will do so for a long time. The joy of his legacy lessens the pain of our loss, according to the statement made by Avant’s son Alex, daughter Nicole, and her husband, Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix.
Avant also impacted sports. He produced a primetime television special for Muhammad Ali and assisted running back Jim Brown in moving from football to acting. When Babe Ruth’s record for most home runs in a season was about to be broken by baseball legend Henry Aaron in 1974, Avant ensured that Aaron secured the kind of rich commercial deals frequently out of reach for Black athletes. He started by making a direct request to the Coca-Cola president.
Aaron would later claim to have become everything he was “because of Clarence Avant” in an interview with The Undefeated.
At an Ebony Fashion Fair in the middle of the 1960s, Avant met model Jacqueline Grey, with whom he later married. They had two kids: Nicole Avant, a former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and, along with Sarandos, a significant Obama fundraiser, and music producer-manager Alexander Devore. In addition to being inducted into the Rock Hall, he was given two honorary Grammy Awards, an NAACP Image Award, and a BET Entrepreneur Award.
Jacqueline Avant was assassinated in their Beverly Hills home in 2021, and among those who mourned her passing were Magic Johnson and Bill Clinton. Nicole Avant would say that her mother, a well-known philanthropist, was responsible for instilling in Clarence Avant and the rest of the family “the love and passion and importance of the arts, culture, and entertainment.”
The wise manager, businessman, facilitator, and consultant Clarence Avant has died. He was 92.
Clarence Avant was born in 1931 and spent his formative years in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was one of eight children raised by a single mother there, and he left high school early to come up north. He managed a lounge in Newark, New Jersey, with the assistance of a buddy from North Carolina, and soon met Glaser, whose patrons included Al Capone, Barbra Streisand, Louis Armstrong, and more. Avant was given access to locations where Black people had previously been rarely allowed, thanks to Glaser.
“Mr. Glaser would have me go with him to these dog shows,” Avant remarked to Variety in 2016. You must also consider that I was the only Black person present at the goddamn dog show. When he took me to a game at Yankee Stadium, he had 16 tickets behind the home dugout. Whenever I tried to go to the back row, he would grab me and shout, “Goddamn it, sit your ass up here with me.”
Avant and Jones were particularly close due to a lost record contract. Jones, one of the few Black executives in the business, was a vice president of Mercury Records in the early 1960s. Jimmy Smith, a jazz artist represented by Avant, had recently been signed by Mercury for $100,000. Avant set a far greater goal for Smith, closer to 500,000.
Do you consume Kool-Aid? Jones would recall telling Avant, who was negotiating with Verve Records at the time.
The wise manager, businessman, facilitator, and consultant Clarence Avant has died. He was 92.
According to Jones, who worked with Avant on the TV show “Heart and Soul” and the motion picture “Stalingrad,” “he went and got the deal,” Billboard reported in 2006. I admired him for doing that.
As he progressed in the entertainment business, Avant became increasingly politically involved. He was the executive producer of “Save the Children,” a 1973 documentary about a musical fundraiser for the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s “Operation PUSH.” He was an early supporter of Tom Bradley, the first Black mayor of Los Angeles. When the civil rights activist Andrew Young was running for Congress in Georgia three years prior, he called him.
“He asked, “You’re running for Congress in Georgia?” Later, Young spoke to CNN. If you’re insane enough to run, then I’m crazy enough to help you, he declared.
Young had never met Avant, who volunteered to organize a charity event with Isaac Hayes and other performers at the Atlanta baseball stadium.
When advertisements for the performance started popping up all over town a month later, Young had forgotten about their talk.
Young estimated that 30,000 people attended despite the torrential downpour. And he never gave us a bill, either.
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
2024| Judge Rejects Claims That Generative AI Tanked Political Conspiracy Case Against Fugees Rapper Pras
Washington – Pras, On Friday, a court denied a request for a fresh trial in a multimillion-dollar political conspiracy lawsuit against Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly determined that his defensedefense attorney’s employment of a generative AI software during closing arguments and other errors made throughout the Washington, D.C. trial did not constitute a substantial miscarriage of justice.
Judge Rejects Claims That Generative AI Tanked Political Conspiracy Case Against Fugees Rapper Pras
Michel was found guilty of ten counts after a jury heard testimony from witnesses, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions. On the most serious charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison. He is free until sentencing, which has yet to be decided.
The Grammy-winning rapper was accused of funneling money from a now-fugitive Malaysian financier through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, then attempting to deter a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China during the Trump administration.
The defense said Michel received lousy advice as he attempted to support himself while recreating himself in politics.
His defense attorney, David Kenner, who has previously represented rappers like Suge Knight and Snoop Dogg, pleaded guilty to leaking grand jury evidence to reporters.
Michel hired a new lawyer, who claimed Kenner had made several errors, including deploying an “experimental” generative AI software that botched closing arguments by misattributing a lyric from his client’s influential 1990s group.
Judge Rejects Claims That Generative AI Tanked Political Conspiracy Case Against Fugees Rapper Pras
Michel, however, failed to prove that Kenner’s handling of the case influenced the jury, according to Judge Kollar-Kotelly.
She accepted that some of Michel’s faults were valid, but they did not neutralise the prosecution’s extensive evidence against him or render the nearly month-long trial unfair.
Michel’s representative had no immediate comment on the ruling.
SOURCE | AP
Celebrity
Julian Ortega, Actor In Netflix’s ‘Elite’ Series, Dies Aged 41
Julian Ortega, a Spanish actor best known for his role in the popular Spanish-language Netflix drama series “Elite,” has died, according to the country’s actor and actress union. He was 41.
“Our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” the union said in a statement Monday.
The sun
Julian Ortega, Actor In Netflix’s ‘Elite’ Series, Dies Aged 41
Ortega, the son of Spanish actress Gloria Muñoz, was born in Madrid in 1983. According to the organization, he attended acting school in the Spanish capital.
He began his career in Spanish-language films, including the 2000 drama “El Otro Barrio” (“The Other Side”) and the 2008 horror fantasy “La raíz del mal.”
He appeared in various Spanish television programs before becoming well-known internationally after appearing in six episodes of Netflix’s Elite.
Ortega played a restaurant manager in the murder-mystery-infused high school thriller, which follows privileged pupils at a prestigious school.
His most recent performances were in drama programs like “The Countryside” (formerly called “El Pueblo”) and “4 estrellas.”
“You were a great man; humble, always smiling, generous, and thoughtful…” I have a great colleague. “Thank you for everything,” wrote his “Countryside” co-star Ruth Diaz in an Instagram post.
Julian Ortega, Actor In Netflix’s ‘Elite’ Series, Dies Aged 41
According to the Spanish Theatre in Madrid, Ortega has worked on theatre ventures, including the 2021 play “Ira,” which he created and co-starred in with his mother.
The reason for the death has not been officially confirmed.
SOURCE | AP
Celebrity
Selena Gomez Reacts To Taylor Swift Cameo Rumors in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ S4
Selena Gomez has recently put a fun twist on rumors swirling about a potential cameo by Taylor Swift in the fourth season of Only Murders in the Building. In an interview with E! News, Gomez responded to the speculation with her signature humor and charm.
Laughing off the rumors, Gomez quipped, “You’re hilarious. She’s a little busy, you guys.”
Her playful tone continued as she added, “Oh dear, I love that,” while still chuckling. Gomez’s light-hearted response showcased her easy-going nature and her ability to handle fan speculation with grace.
Gomez’s co-stars, Steve Martin and Martin Short, also joined in on the playful banter. Martin, in a comedic twist, said, “Listen, she calls us every day. Here – she’s calling right now. Ahh I’ll take it later.”
‘Only Murders in the Building’ S4
Martin Short added to the jest, joking, “No, I was talking to Taylor around 3:00 a.m.” Their jokes highlighted the camaraderie and fun atmosphere among the cast.
Beyond the jokes, Martin took a moment to genuinely praise both Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez for their poise.
He commented, “Taylor Swift handles everything perfectly and so does Selena. In the situations I’ve seen—politically, trolls, everything—she just seems to have a wisdom about how to do something quietly, effortlessly.”
The interaction underscores not only the strong bond between the cast members but also their mutual respect and admiration for each other.
Gomez and Swift’s friendship, along with their shared ability to navigate public life with elegance, continues to be a topic of interest and admiration among fans and colleagues alike.
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