The Black Godfather | |
---|---|
Directed by | Reginald Hudlin |
Produced by | Nicole Avant Nelson George Byron Phillips Caitrin Rogers |
Starring | Hank Aaron Dina R. Andrews Clarence Avant |
Production companies | Boardwalk Pictures Makemake |
Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Black Godfather is a 2019 documentary film directed by Reginald Hudlin. The film depicts the story of music executive Clarence Avant, told by the people he worked with. [1] [2]
Clarence Avant, known as "the godfather of black music", is perhaps not well known by the general public, but very famous in the music industry. Starting as a manager to pianist-composer Lalo Schifrin, he later founded record labels, served as concert organizer, a special events producer, a fund-raiser for Democratic politicians, and a mentor to several African American executives. [4]
The documentary was released on June 7, 2019, on Netflix streaming. [5] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on seven reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. [6]
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Clarence Alexander Avant was a prominent American music executive and film producer. Originating from Climax, North Carolina, Avant began his professional journey in the 1950s, managing Teddy P's Lounge in Newark, New Jersey. Under the guidance of Joe Glaser, a notable music manager of the era, Avant managed a diverse portfolio of artists, ranging from R&B talents like Little Willie John to jazz figures such as Jimmy Smith. In the 1960s, he founded Avant Garde Enterprises, marking a significant step in his contributions to the music sector.
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