Clarence Alexander Avant was born on 25 February 1931, in Climax, North Carolina USA, and is a film producer, entrepreneur, and music executive, best known for being called the “Godfather of Black Music”, responsible for creating joint ventures between African-American artists and major record labels. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Clarence Avant? As of mid-2017, sources estimate a net worth that is at $10 million, mostly earned through a successful career in the music industry. He has helped produce numerous projects, and worked with several major record labels. He founded Avant Garde Broadcasting and all of his achievements have ensured the position of his wealth.
Clarence Avant Net Worth $10 million
Clarence attended Dudley High School for two years and then moved to New Jersey in 1947, after which he worked as a stock clerk for Macy’s. In the 1950s, he found opportunity in the music industry when he became part of Teddy P’s Lounge as a manager. He was mentored by Joseph G. Joe Glaser who was the founder of the Associated Booking Corporation, and the Consolidated Booking Corporation. Later on, Clarence would start managing singers such as Tom Wilson, Sarah Vaughan and Little Willie John, and also Lalo Schifrin and Jimmy Smith.
In 1967, Avant helped incorporate Venture Records Inc. which would lead to the first successful venture between an African-American artist and a major record company. The company was run by William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Avant had to move to Beverly Hills to work for the company, for two years until MGM Records shut the label down. Despite that, he earned a good salary and his net worth increased. He became an associate producer and started several stage projects, including in the same year founding Sussex Records in Los Angeles, and it would run for six years until shut down by the IRS. During the run of Sussex, they had artists such as Bill Withers and Dennis Coffey, but there was controversy that the company had ripped-off several artists by not paying royalties.
In 1971 Clarence founded Avant Garde Broadcasting, Inc. and would also buy an FM radio station in Los Angeles, the first owned by an African-American. The company, however, never really became profitable and was forced into bankruptcy in 1975. Afterwards, he continued with other projects such as working with Paramount Pictures for “Save the Children”. He was rewarded by the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences the Trustees Award in 2008. In 2016, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame thanks to his contributions to the recording industry.
For his personal life, it is known that Avant married Jacqueline Alberta Gray in 1967 and they have a son and a daughter. Jacqueline served on the board of directors of the UCLA International Student Center, and was also the entertainment chairman of the NOW benefit auction and NOW membership.
