“The Black Godfather” is available to stream now on Netflix. Reginald Hudlin’s documentary about Clarence Avant includes many golden anecdotes. We learn how Avant apparently dealt a death blow to a Dick Clark program meant to rival “Soul Train”; brokered a peace among warring rights holders for an “E.T.” tie-in album; and arranged for a fearful Sean Combs’s travel after the Notorious B.I.G.’s death. Music executive Clarence Avant was born on February 25, 1931 in the small town of Climax, North Carolina. Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes. Avant is a relaxed interview subject, leaning on bits of wisdom like “life begins with a number, and it ends with a number” and “I don’t have problems. I can see the raw emotion in his eyes. It makes perfect sense because these were people that said I don’t care. He went to school through his junior high years in a one-room school house before attending James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. I’m doing it my way and that’s the Clarence way.”. One person Hudlin didn’t interview was Muhammad Ali, who had a very special relationship with Avant. I was very excited to see him because he has a reputation of a super charismatic guy. It’s not often that a documentary features testimonials from two former presidents (Clinton and Obama) and a current presidential candidate (Kamala Harris), but that’s the case with “The Black Godfather,” a tribute to Clarence Avant. “I had met President Obama many times, but I had never met President Clinton. All of that seems surreal for a man who says he never got further than ninth grade, and whose life intersected in complicated ways with the civil rights movement. Glendale Police Arrest Tujunga Man On Suspicion Of EDD Fraud, Expert Says State's Thanksgiving Gathering Guidelines Are 'Right On The Money', 'I Was Like, Whew, Thank You': Mookie Betts On Rays Manager Kevin Cash's Decision To Pull Blake Snell In 6th Inning, 27 Arrested For Alleged Unemployment Benefits Fraud In Torrance Since Sept. 10, Downtown LA Foot Locker, Other Stores Looted, Multiple Arrests After Dodgers World Series Celebrations Turn Violent, Fugitive In 2017 Hit-And-Run That Killed Bicyclist In Whittier Arrested In Australia, Brought Back To US, 'I Was Blindfolded, Handcuffed, Put Into A Car': Orange County Man Michael Nguyen Opens Up About 2 Years In Vietnam Prison, Silverado Fire: Some Residents Return Home As Containment Grows To 5%, All Evacuation Orders Lifted For Blue Ridge Fire In Yorba Linda, Chino Hills, Charter Boat Trip Out Of Newport Beach Returns With Monster 361-Pound Tuna. I’m impressed by him as a man and as a thinker and his honesty is incredible. It’s so honest and real and I was so moved.”. Hudlin, who is known for his work as a director of films such as “House Party”, and “Marshall”, has seen his career impacted by Avant. Clarence Avant Biography - Affair, Married, Wife, Ethnicity, Nationality, Salary, Net Worth | Who is Clarence Avant? Clarence Alexander Avant is an American music official, business person, and filmmaker infrequently called the "Godfather of Black Music". When you purchase a ticket for an independently reviewed film through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. https://www.wealthypersons.com/clarence-avant-net-worth-2020-2021 (CBS Local)– You may not have heard of Clarence Avant, but he’s been one of the most influential and powerful figures in music, entertainment, and politics over the past 50 years. “It hurts me so much that we didn’t get a chance to talk with Muhammad Ali,” said Hudlin.