Clarence Avant Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Steven J. Horowitz The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) celebrated its third annual awards gala at the Beverly Hilton last night in Los Angeles.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music The Black Music Action Coalition has announced the honorees for the 2023 BMAC Gala, its annual celebration honoring individuals and organizations who have affected positive change and helped improve equity within the community. Presented by Live Nation, the third annual gala will take place on Thursday, September 21 at the Beverly Hilton — honorees include: ● BMAC Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award: Hip-hop artist, award-winning producer, songwriter, author, DJ, and CEO of So So Def Records Jermaine Dupri ● BMAC Social Impact Award: Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, producer Keke Palmer, SVP, Universal Music Group and Executive Director, Task Force for Meaningful Change Dr.

Clarence Avant, the judicious manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the “Black Godfather” of music and beyond, has died. He was 92.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music The wide reach of Clarence Avant, who was widely known as “the Godfather of Black Entertainment” and died Sunday at the age of 92, was evident from the range of people paying tribute to him on social media after his death was announced Monday morning. His influence spanned music, entertainment, sports, politics and beyond. Within just a couple of hours, former President Bill Clinton, the Rev.

Black American culture as one of the most influential businessmen in entertainment. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native became a pillar in entertainment after moving to Los Angeles in the late 1960s.

Clarence Avant, who was dubbed the “Black Godfather” of music and entertainment, has died aged 92, his family has confirmed.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Nicole Avantwill release her memoir, “Think You’ll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief With Grit, Grace, and Gratitude,” in October, Variety can exclusively reveal. In the book, the philanthropist, filmmaker and diplomat writes candidly about coming to terms with the tragic death of her mother, Jacqueline, who was fatally shot during a robbery at her Beverly Hills home in 2021. “Getting out there and being creative helps me a lot,” Avant says. “I am grieving and I am crying and I am angry and I’m furious at what has happened — there is no denying that. But I’m going to put one foot forward because the greatest thing I can do for my mom is live my life. The greatest way to honor her soul is to live my life to the fullest.”

Todd Gilchrist editor Nestled into a cozy corner of a shopping center high in the Hollywood hills, Herb Alpert’s jazz club Vibrato Grill was the site of a coronation Sunday for not one but three musical luminaries. The Jazz Foundation of America honored 10-time Grammy-winning composer and pianist Dave Grusin, saxophonist Charles Lloyd and trailblazing music executive Clarence Avant at a benefit to raise proceeds for jazz, blues and R&B musicians facing financial hardship due to unemployment, illness or old age. Though host Quincy Jones was unable to attend due to unspecified health issues of his own, he and the JFA assembled a program of speakers and performers for an evening of celebration and song that the phrase “star-studded” barely does adequate justice.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Nicole Avant and her family have lived through the unthinkable. Her mother, 81-year-old philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was fatally shot in her Beverly Hills home during a home invasion on Dec. 1, 2021. Jacqueline’s husband, music industry legend Clarence Avant, was also home at the time. “My faith has kept me stable,” Nicole told me Friday morning at the opening of the Jacqueline Avant Children and Family Center at the MLK Medical Campus in the Watts-Willowbrook community. “But it is true that life does begin again and you will smile again. You have to believe that even if you don’t see how that can be, you have to act as if.”

Thania Garcia Today (Aug. 4), the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) revealed honorees for its second annual Music in Action Awards Gala on Sept. 22 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.Jon “Big Jon” Platt, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Publishing (pictured at left), will be receiving the Clarence Avant Trailblazer award.

for murdering Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant.Aariel Maynor, 30, was sentenced yesterday (April 19) after pleading guilty to murder and other charges in Los Angeles’ Superior Court last month and admitting he used an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle to shoot Avant in her Beverly Hills home on December 1 2021, before firing several rounds at her security guard as he fled, reports Billboard.According to prosecutors, Maynor shot Avant in the back when she surprised him after he broke into the couple’s house during a burglary attempt in which he hoped to steal $50,000 (£38,288).After fleeing the scene, prosecuters claimed that he broke into a separate home in the Hollywood Hills and then accidentally shot himself in the foot as he was leaving.It was alleged that Maynor had searched for information on Clarence Avant and the couple’s address the day before the killing.Jacqueline was known for her philanthropic efforts including being on the board of directors of UCLA’s International Student Center and having acted as president of the Neighbors of Watts.Her husband, Clarence, has been celebrated by artists including JAY-Z and Diddy for cultivating African American artists’ careers.

A parolee who murdered 81-year-old philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of a legendary music executive, during a burglary at her Beverly Hills home was sentenced Tuesday to 190 years in a California prison.

LOS ANGELES -- A parolee who murdered 81-year-old philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of a legendary music executive, was sentenced Tuesday to 190 years in a California prison.Aariel Maynor, 30, pleaded guilty to murder and other charges in Los Angeles Superior Court last month and admitted he used an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle to shoot Avant in her Beverly Hills home Dec. 1 and fired several rounds at her security guard as he fled.Avant was married to Clarence Avant, a Grammy winner known as the “Godfather of Black Music” for mentoring and helping the careers of artists including Bill Withers, Little Willie John, L.A.

Jordan Moreau Aariel Maynor, 30, has been sentenced to life in state prison, with a minimum of 150 years, after pleading guilty to murder in the killing of Jacqueline Avant.Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, was shot and killed by Maynor at her Beverly Hills home during a burglary in the early morning of Dec. 1, 2021. She was 81.Maynor also admitted to shooting at a security guard, who was not wounded, during the burglary.

life in prison with a minimum of 150 years for the murder of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, wife of celebrated music executive Clarence Avant.Maynor, 30, broke into the Avant family home on Dec. 1, and shot Jacqueline Avant in the back. About an hour later, he was taken into custody in the Hollywood Hills after shooting himself while burglarizing a second home.

A two-time convict who fatally shot Jacqueline Avant, the wife of celebrated music executive Clarence Avant, during a burglary at the couple’s Trousdale Estates home in Beverly Hills, was sentenced today to 150 years to life in prison.

story published Monday night, the Times detailed court records and transcripts from jailhouse phone calls that Aariel Maynor made following his arrest. The documents say Maynor called a female friend and said he was enjoying the publicity surrounding the Dec. 1 killing of Avant, who was the wife of former Motown boss Clarence Avant.

LOS ANGELES -- A 30-year-old man pleaded guilty Thursday to the murder of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant.Los Angeles County prosecutors said Aariel Maynor pleaded guilty in the fatal shooting of Avant and the attempted murder of her security guard at her Beverly Hills home in December.Maynor also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of burglary.He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30 and could be sentenced to up to 170 years in prison, prosecutors said.Police were called to the Avants’ home early on the morning of Dec. 1 and found Jacqueline Avant, 81, with a gunshot wound.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAariel Maynor, the man accused in the fatal shooting of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant at her home in December, pleaded guilty on Thursday to a charge of murder.Maynor, 30, also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Avant’s security guard and to carrying a firearm as a felon. Maynor is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30.Avant, 81, was the wife of music industry legend Clarence Avant and the mother of Nicole Avant, a former ambassador and prominent political fundraiser who is married to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.The Avants were at their home in the Trousdale Estates neighborhood of Beverly Hills when Jacqueline was shot after 2 a.m.

UPDATED, 11:45 AM: The man arrested and charged in the shooting death of Jacqueline Avant, the philanthropist and wife of celebrated music executive Clarence Avant, changed his plea to guilty today.

Sidney Poitier is the subject of a documentary currently in development for Apple Original Films with Oprah Winfrey set to executive produce.The documentary, from Winfrey’s Harpo Productions and Network Entertainment, has been in the works for more than a year. The project will be directed by Reggie Hudlin, whose credits include “House Party” and “Boomerang,” as well as episodes of TV series “The Last O.G.” and “Black Monday.” Hudlin is also known as the executive producer for the NAACP Image Awards since 2013. In the documentary realm, Hudlin directed the 2019 film “The Black Godfather” about the life and times of music producer Clarence Avant, who has recently been in the headlines following the murder of his wife, philanthropist Jackie Avant, in their Beverly Hills home.Hudlin is already a member of the Apple family, where he is producing two other documentaries for Apple TV+.

The man suspected of killing Jacqueline Avant, the late wife of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Clarence Avant, pleaded not guilty Thursday to fatally shooting her and shooting at her security guard during a burglary in her Beverly Hills, California home.  Aariel Maynor, 29, faces charges of murder, attempted murder, being a felon with a firearm as well as two counts of residential burglary with a person present.

Aariel Maynor was formally charged Monday in connection with the shooting death of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.The 29-year-old parolee is accused of breaking into Avant’s Beverly Hills home on Dec. 1, and fatally shooting the 81-year-old wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Prosecutors filed charges Monday against a 29-year-old man in the fatal shooting of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, last week at their Beverly Hills home.Aariel Maynor is also charged with the attempted murder of the Avants' security guard, whom he allegedly shot at during the Dec.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterFriends of Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music mogul Clarence Avant, are reeling from her shocking death at the age of 81 after a shooting and home invasion. As they process the tragedy, they are also shining a light on her charitable work and personal kindnesses.“Grace is one of those things you can’t predict.

An arrest has been made in connection to the shocking death of Jacqueline Avant.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing of Jacqueline “Jackie” Avant.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Jacqueline Avant, a philanthropist and the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, killed at their home in Beverly Hills, California.

Jordan Moreau A suspect has been arrested in the killing of Jacqueline Avant, the Beverly Hills Police Department announced in a press conference Thursday.Police arrested Aariel Maynor, 29, who allegedly shot and killed Avant after breaking into her Beverly Hills home early Wednesday morning.

This story is developing... A suspect in yesterday’s shooting death of Jackie Avant is in police custody, Beverly Hills police announced this afternoon.

Civil rights and community leaders are urging the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to post a reward for information in the shooting death of Jackie Avant, the philanthropist and wife of music executive Clarence Avant.

her death Wednesday morning. Avant, the wife of former Motown head Clarence Avant, died of a gunshot wound after her home in Beverly Hills was invaded.“My heart breaks for Clarence and Nicole and all the Avant family,” said the filmmaker in a statement posted to Twitter and Instagram.

J. Kim Murphy administratorTyler Perry has shared his mourning over the death of Jacqueline Avant, stating that “every available resource will be used” to help find the philanthropist’s killer.

fatal shooting of Jackie Avant was a “random attack.” The shooting was reported at 2:23 a.m. in the 1100 block of Maytor Place, according to police.

Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music legend Clarence Avant, was shot and killed during a home invasion of their Beverly Hills house on Tuesday night. She was 81.

A post shared by TYRESE (@tyrese)Police say units arrived and discovered a victim with a gunshot wound. The suspect or suspects were no longer at the scene by the time police arrived. Paramedics from the Beverly Hills Fire Department transported the victim to a local hospital but the victim did not survive.