Mar 17, 2019 - Rumors about R&B singer Avant have been circling all weekend about the. Despite Her Illness, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott's Impact on the.
Avant in 2019 | |
Background information | |
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Born | February 25, 1931 (age 88) Climax, North Carolina, U.S. |
Genres | R&B, soul, pop |
Occupation(s) | Music executive, entrepreneur, and film producer |
Labels | Venture Records Inc. Sussex Records Tabu Productions, Inc. Motown Records |
Associated acts | Bill Withers Dennis Coffey Gallery The SOS Band Cherrelle Alexander O'Neal Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Sixto Rodriguez |
Clarence Alexander Avant (born February 25, 1931) is an American music executive, entrepreneur, and film producer, sometimes called the 'Godfather of Black Music'.[1][2][3]
Avant's 75th birthday was celebrated by Billboard magazine, on its February 2006 issue.[4]
- 1Biography
Biography[edit]
Early career[edit]
Clarence Alexander Avant was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, he was the oldest of eight children. He attended a one-room school in Greensboro until the eighth grade. He spent his freshman and second years of high school at Dudley High School in Greensboro before moving to New Jersey in 1947 as a teenager.[5] In New Jersey, Avant worked as a stock clerk at Macy's and for a law directory. He began in the music business in the 1950s as a manager of Teddy P's Lounge in Newark, New Jersey, owned by promoter Teddy Powell.[6]
Joseph G. Joe Glaser (December 17, 1896 – June 6, 1969), music manager of Louis Armstrong from 1935 until his death in 1969, and the original proprietor of Sunset Gardens on the South Side of Chicago, mentored Avant. Glaser founded Consolidated Booking Corporation and Associated Booking Corporation on November 26, 1943.[7][8]
Avant later managed R&B singer Little Willie John, jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, Kim Weston, Luiz Bonfa, Wynton Kelly, Freddie Hubbard, Curtis Fuller, Pat Thomas, rock and roll pioneer Tom Wilson, whom Avant partnered with in the Wilson Organization, jazz producer Creed Taylor, Jimmy Smith (jazz musician of the Hammond B-3electronic organ), and Argentine pianist-composer, Lalo Schifrin.[9] Avant incorporated Avant Garde Enterprises, Inc. on November 7, 1962 in New York, the same month that Smith became a client of Associated Booking, and originally had offices at 850 Seventh Avenue.[10] Schifrin and Smith collaborated to make The Cat, released on Verve Records on April 27, 1964.[citation needed] Avant opened a West Coast office in September 1964 to accommodate the growing motion picture soundtrack assignments offered to his clients.[11] During his years in New York, Avant served as an adviser, board member, and executive of the National Association of Radio Announcers (NARA), later the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA), and also as a consultant to PlayTape, a two track tape cartridge system developed by Frank Stanton, and first marketed by MGM Records [12] On September 27, 1966, Avant incorporated Sussex Productions, Inc. in New York, an independent record production firm with artists Four Hi's, Johnny Nash, Terry Bryant,Billy Woods, and the Judge and the Jury.[13]
Venture Records Inc.[edit]
On October 2, 1967, Venture Records Inc. was incorporated in California, a company for which Avant successfully engineered the first joint venture between an African American artist and a major record company. Founded as an outlet for the soul acts of MGM Records, Venture Records Inc. was run by former Motown songwriter, record producer, and A&R department head William 'Mickey' Stevenson.[14] Negotiated for Stevenson by Los Angeles attorney Abraham Somer, the label had offices at 8350 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.[15]
Avant moved from Manhattan to Beverly Hills to work with Venture Records Inc. in the Fall of 1967, doing so until 1969 when MGM Records shut down the label and joint venture. During this time, record producer, songwriter, and executive Al Bell enlisted the aid of Avant, whom he had met through the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA), to sell Stax Records to Gulf+Western. The deal was finalized on May 29, 1968 for $4.3 million, with Avant receiving ten percent of all debentures.[16]
In August 1969, Avant became the associate producer, along with Al Bell, of Douglas Turner Ward'sThe Reckoning (a surreal Southern Fable), presented in co-operation with The Negro Ensemble Company at St. Mark's Playhouse in New York.[17]The Reckoning started the off-Broadway season, starring Jeannette DuBois, later Ja'net Dubois of Good Times fame.[18]
Sussex Records Inc.[edit]
After Venture Records Inc. folded, Avant remained in Los Angeles and 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.[19][20]
The remaining furniture, office equipment, and recording masters (bought by CBS Records for $50,500) were auctioned in July 1975 at Sussex offices (6255 West Sunset Blvd, Hollywood). Avant signed singer, songwriter, and producer Bill Withers, guitarist Dennis Coffey, and soft rock band Gallery to Sussex Records, which was distributed from 1970-74 by Buddah Records.[21]
Avant Garde Broadcasting[edit]
Under Avant Garde Broadcasting, Inc., founded on August 6, 1971, Avant bought the first African-American owned FM radio station in metropolitan Los Angeles on March 3, 1973 from Trans America Broadcasting Corp, buying the license of KTYM-FM in Inglewood, California for $321,000, including actual facilities at 6803 West Boulevard in Inglewood, and FCC licensing fees, renaming it KAGB-FM.[22][23]
Using a $199,900 promissory note and stock purchase warrants from the Urban National Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts (a Venture Capital company founded in July 1971), Avant partnered with two investment bankers.[Domestic Profit Corporation 1]
Avant Garde Broadcasting, run by Del Shields from the National Association of Radio and Television Announcers (NARTA) who served as Executive Vice-President, never turned a profit, and was ultimately forced into bankruptcy by Urban National on November 20, 1975 when it defaulted on promissory notes and warrants of around $400,000, and refused to accept all counsel or advice on how to run the station. Avant lost about $611,168.67 in the bankruptcy, $71,500 from Interior Music Corporation advances between August 1973 and September 1974, and $13,887 from Sussex Records loans. Comedian Bill Cosby was an additional investor in Avant Garde Broadcasting, investing approx. $200,000 through his company SAH Enterprises.[24][25]
In September 1973, Paramount Pictures released 'Save the Children', with Avant serving as executive producer. Filmed at the Operation PUSH Black Expo in Chicago, the production mixed performances of top black entertainers with footage depicting blacks, especially children, in various conditions, including war-ravaged and malnourished refugees. The film premiered at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.[26]
On February 10, 2008, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded him the Trustees Award.[citation needed]
On October 7, 2016, Avant received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions in the recording industry, located at 6363 Hollywood Boulevard, next to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' star.[27][28]
Personal life[edit]
Avant married Jacqueline 'Jackie' Alberta Gray in 1967. The couple have two children, Nicole (born March 6, 1968) and Alexander Dubois Avant (born August 3, 1971). Jackie Avant served as president of the Neighbors of Watts, the support group for the South Central Community Child Care Center in 1975, entertainment chairman of the NOW benefit auction and dinner dance, and chairman of NOW membership in 1974.[29] She is also on the board of directors of the International Student Center at UCLA.[30]
References[edit]
- ^'Urban National Corporation'. Articles of Organization-7/20/1971. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Corporations Division.
Sources[edit]
- ^'Pioneering Exec Clarence Avant, the Master Mentor'. miamiherald.com December 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
- ^Goldberg, Danny (2005). How the left lost teen spirit-- (and how they're getting it back). Akashic Books. p. 229. ISBN978-0-9719206-8-2.
- ^Daunt, Tina (August 17, 2007). 'Black celebs are major players'. pqasb.pqarchiver.com L A Times August 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
- ^'Industry Hero Gets Back to His Roots'. nl.newsbank.com May 2006. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
- ^'Music Industry Hero Gets Back To His Roots', Greensboro News and Record, May 21, 2006.
- ^'Recalling Newark Night Life'. Oldnewark.com. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- ^Obituary, The New York Times, May 17, 1969, p. 33; 'Joseph G. Glaser Is Dead at 72; Booking Agent For Many Stars', The New York Times, June 8, 1969, p. 92
- ^'Satchmo Remembers the Big Magaffa', Los Angeles Times, June 22, 1969, p. G44.
- ^'Billboard,' April 6, 1963, p. 47.
- ^'Bids fly high for Jimmy Smith,' 'Billboard', December 15,1962, p. 5.
- ^'Avant on Coast,' 'Billboard', September 19,1964, p. 4.
- ^'LP Clearance Wheels Turn,' 'Billboard',June 11, 1966, p. 1., 'Avant Launches Sussex,' 'Billboard', November 12,1966, p. 3., 'PlayTape Girds for Mass Merchandising,' 'Billboard', July 1,1967, p. WS-2.
- ^'Avant Launches Sussex,' 'Billboard, November 12, 1966, p. 3.
- ^California Secretary of State, Corporation Number: C0533792, Corporate Records, Department of Corporations, Status Report/Statement of Information, Status: Forfeited, Jurisdiction: Delaware.
- ^'MGM, Mickey Stevenson Announce Venture Label', 'Record World', October 7, 1967, p. 3.
- ^Bowman, Rob, Soulsville USA: The Story of Stax Records, Music Sales Group (2003), pp. 142-43; ISBN978-0-8256-7284-2
- ^The New York Times, August 17, 1969, p. D2.
- ^Kerr, Walter. 'For People Who Want To Be Cured of the Theater at Once,' The New York Times, August 31, 1969, p. D1
- ^Los Angeles Times, August 3, 1975, p. A5
- ^California Corporation Number: C0587708, Status: Suspended, Jurisdiction: California.
- ^http://www.bsnpubs.com/buddah/sussex.html
- ^'Business Search - Business Entities - Business Programs'. kepler.sos.ca.gov. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^Avant, Clarence (March 8, 1973). 'Clarence Avant Buys Calif. Radio Station'. Jet Magazine., 'Avant Garde Gets FCC OK for KYTM-FM', 'Radio World', p. 20.
- ^'Bankruptcy Sale: Avant Garde Broadcasting, Inc. dba KAGB-FM, Bankrupt, Bankruptcy No. BK75-20840-BR.,' Los Angeles Times, April 15, 1976, p. F1.
- ^Avant, Clarence (October 21, 1976). 'Former All-Pro Davis Buys Radio Station in Calif'. Books.google.com: 54. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- ^Weiler, A.H., 'Stars Save The Children,' The New York Times, September 19, 1973, p. 40
- ^'Clarence Avant | Hollywood Walk of Fame'. www.walkoffame.com. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
- ^'Clarence Avant, 'Godfather of Black Music', Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame'. Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
- ^'Mrs. Avant New President of Child Care Support Group', 'Los Angeles Times', August 11, 1975. p. E7.
- ^Gindick, Tia, 'Beverly Hills Hostess For African Dignitaries: Jackie Avant, Entrepreneur's Wife Is Involved and Active,' Los Angeles Times, February 18, 1980, p. OC_C1
External links[edit]
- Clarence Avant on IMDb
- Profile, oldnewark.com; accessed October 3, 2016.
- Profile, walkoffame.com; accessed October 3, 2016.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clarence_Avant&oldid=901191940'
Birth name | Myron Lavell Avant |
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Born | April 26, 1978 (age 41) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Genres | R&B |
Occupation(s) | |
Years active | 1999–Present |
Labels |
|
Associated acts |
|
Website | avantlivemusic.com |
Myron Lavell Avant (born April 26, 1978), better known as Avant, is a multi platinum awarded American R&B singer and songwriter.
- 2Discography
Career[edit]
Avant is best known for hits such as 'Separated' (the remix featuring Kelly Rowland); 'My First Love', one version of which features KeKe Wyatt; and 'Read Your Mind' (remix featuring Snoop Dogg on the extended promo vinyl and released September 30, 2003). He was featured in the remix to the Lloyd Banks song 'Karma' from the 2004 album The Hunger for More, and has had a cameo appearance in the 2004 feature filmBarberShop 2: Back in Business.
His self-titled fifth album, Avant, was released on December 9, 2008.Avant is now signed to Verve Forecast and released his sixth studio album The Letter (formerly titled Wake Up) on December 21, 2010,[1] featuring production from the likes of The Pentagon; Mike City; Marshall Leathers; and Kajun.[2] Avant cites R. Kelly as his biggest influence and inspiration. His eighth album The VIII was released on September 25, 2015.[3]
In 2019, Avant returned with the new single 'Not Gone Lose' and signed a new label deal to release his upcoming album.[4]
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [5] | US R&B [6] | ||||
My Thoughts |
| 45 | 6 |
|
|
Ecstasy |
| 6 | 2 |
|
|
Private Room |
| 18 | 4 |
| |
Director |
| 4 | 1 |
| |
Avant |
| 26 | 6 |
| |
The Letter |
| 114 | 19 | ||
Face The Music |
| 40 | 9 |
| |
The VIII |
| 95 | 8 |
Singles[edit]
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [11] | US R&B [12] | UK [13] | UK R&B [14] | |||
'Separated' | 2000 | 23 | 1 | -- | -- | My Thoughts |
'My First Love' (featuring Keke Wyatt) | 26 | 4 | -- | -- | ||
'Makin' Good Love' | 2002 | 27 | 7 | -- | -- | Ecstasy |
'Don't Say No, Just Say Yes' | 96 | 51 | -- | -- | ||
'Read Your Mind' | 2003 | 13 | 5 | -- | -- | Private Room |
'Don't Take Your Love Away' | 2004 | 37 | 13 | -- | -- | |
'Can't Wait' | -- | 55 | -- | -- | Shark Tale | |
'You Know What' (featuring Lil Wayne) | 2006 | -- | 58 | -- | -- | Director |
'4 Minutes' | 57 | 9 | -- | -- | ||
'Lie About Us' (featuring Nicole Scherzinger) | -- | --[D] | 76 | 9 | ||
'When It Hurts' | 2008 | 91 | 15 | -- | -- | Avant |
'Break Ya Back' | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
'Kiss Goodbye' | 2010 | -- | 60 | -- | -- | The Letter |
'Your Body is the Business' | 2011 | -- | 73 | -- | -- | |
'You & I' (featuring Keke Wyatt) | 2012 | -- | 1 | -- | -- | Face The Music |
'More' | 2013 | -- | 17 | -- | -- | |
'Special' | 2015 | -- | 4 | -- | -- | The VIII |
'Not Gone Lose' | 2019 | -- | -- | -- | -- | TBA |
Notes[edit]
- ^United States sales figures for My Thoughts as of October 2009.[7]
- ^United States sales figures for Ecstasy as of November 2003.[9]
- ^United States sales figures for Avant as of October 2009.[7]
- ^'Lie About Us' did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles.[15]
Featured singles[edit]
- 2001: 'Secret Lover' (The Isley Brothers featuring Avant)
- 2001: 'Nothing in This World' (Keke Wyatt featuring Avant)
- 2002: 'Cleveland Is the City' (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony featuring Avant)
- 2005: 'Super Saucy' (Baby Bash featuring Avant)
- 2005: 'Stickwitu' (Pussycat Dolls featuring Avant)
- 2005: 'Karma' (Lloyd Banks featuring Avant)
- 2005: 'Bedroom Boom' (Ying Yang Twins featuring Avant)
- 2006: 'Claim My Place' (Diddy featuring Avant)
- 2007: 'Phone Sex (Thats What's Up)' (Karma featuring Avant)
- 2010: 'Skies Wide Open' (Brian Culbertson featuring Avant)
References[edit]
- ^'Avant MySpace announcement'. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
- ^Pete Lewis. 'Avant: Getting down to the letter'.
- ^'The VIII'. iTunes.
- ^http://youknowigotsoul.com/new-music-avant-not-gone-lose
- ^'Avant - Chart history: Billboard 200'. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
- ^'Avant - Chart history: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums'. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ abWood, Mikael (November 7, 2010). 'R&B Singer Avant Delivers His 'Thoughts' on New Label'. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ abcd'Gold & Platinum Searchable Database: Avant'. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 27, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^'Avant Enters 'Private Room''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 10, 2003. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^'Upcoming Releases'. Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on August 25, 2015.
- ^'Avant - Chart history: Hot 100'. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^'Avant - Chart history: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs'. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^'Artist Chart History – Avant FT Nicole Scherzinger'. Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^'Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40: 05-11-2006 - 11-11-2006'. Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^'Avant – Chart History: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles'. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
External links[edit]
- Avant on Geffen Records
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Avant_(singer)&oldid=889880852'