NETFLIX RELEASES TRAILER FOR CLARENCE AVANT DOC

Netflix has released the trailer for The Black Godfather, the Clarence Avant documentary set to premiere on 6/7. The film will follow the rise and influence of the black entertainment pioneer, and features interviews and commentary from biz legends including Quincy Jones, Irving Azoff, David Geffen, Diddy, Lionel Richie, L.A. Reid, Clive Davis, Snoop Dogg and Jamie Foxx along with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, among others.

In an excerpt from our Black History Month special, we profiled Avant's prodigious legacy (he'll reappear in our forthcoming Black Music Month follow-up):

Another legendary African-American executive/entrepreneur, Clarence Avant, recently soaked up the kudos that accompany the Industry Icons Award at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy soiree, which threw a spotlight on the career of the man known as the “Godfather of Black Music.” Starting off in booking and management with a stable of major jazz talent (including Sarah Vaughan, Freddie Hubbard and Jimmy Smith), Avant cannily and creatively incorporated soundtracks, technology and more into his undertakings. With Venture Records, launched in ’67 via MGM, he put together the first major-label JV for an African-American artist (Motown writer/producer/exec William “Mickey” Stevenson). He then worked with Al Bell to sell Stax to Gulf+Western for $4.3m. The short-lived Sussex Records(distribbed by Buddah in the early ’70s) boasted Bill Withers and Dennis Coffey on its roster. He resumed his management career in the mid-’70s. He then bought an FM radio station in L.A., becoming the first African-American station owner in the market, which marked the beginning of Avant Garde Broadcasting, Inc.