Music

Clarence Avant, the beloved music executive widely known as “The Black Godfather,” has died at the age of 92, his family confirms. 

“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant. Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports,” his children Nicole and Alex Avant and son-in-law Ted Sarandos said in a statement.

“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the statement continues. “The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss. Clarence passed away gently at home in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 13, 2023. He was 92.”

Early on in his career, the North Carolina native managed countless successful acts such as Sarah Vaughan, Little Willie John, Freddie Hubbard and Jimmy Smith. His deal-making abilities gained the attention of legendary label executive Quincy Jones who has said that after the two met, they went on to become “best friends and brothers.”

In the late ’60s, Avant helped to broker the sale of Stax records and in 1969, founded his own label, Sussex Records where he signed “Ain’t No Sunshine” singer Bill Withers. In the ’70s, Avant founded KAGB-FM, one of the first Black-owned radio stations in Los Angeles. 

Avant’s lifework includes his contributions to the careers of notable Black figures like professional boxer Muhammad Ali, NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown, baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson and baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. “Without Clarence Avant, there is no Hank Aaron,” Aaron would later say in the Netflix documentary, The Black Godfather.

Avant’s contributions to music earned him numerous accolades including the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP in 2007 and the Recording Academy’s Trustees Award in 2008.

His wife, Jacqueline Avant, was tragically killed in a 2021 home invasion at the couple’s Los Angeles residence. She was 81. The couple had been married for 54 years.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Teddy Riley may be known for R&B hits, but unbeknownst to some, he actually got his start in hip-hop. He produced songs for Doug E. Fresh, Heavy D, Wreckx-n-Effect, Big Daddy Kane and more, years before fusing hip-hop with R&B to make his New Jack Swing sound.

“Hip-hop is a big influence on me because that’s the first genre that I did,” Teddy tells ABC Audio, naming Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizzard Theodore, Crash Crew and Treacherous Three as some of his inspirations. He was around the genre when he lent support to artists in the studio and was introduced to producers by his mentor, Royal Bayyan, the former guitarist for Kool & The Gang.

Teddy says he was the first to have so many records go “number one as remixes,” but as he reflects on the 50th anniversary of the genre, he feels he’s “never been respected as a hip-hop producer.”

“I made some of the biggest hip-hop records and they’re still classics today. And you got people who made some of the biggest hip-hop records that don’t even play today,” Teddy says. Noting Big Daddy Kane and Doug E. Fresh are still touring with songs he produced, he adds, “I need somebody to put some respect on my name.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

We now know when Måneskin‘s new single “HONEY! (Are u coming?)” will be doing just that.

In a Facebook post, the Italian rockers reveal that the upcoming song is set to premiere on September 1. They also shared a 30-second preview of the tune.

You can presave “HONEY!” now, which will enter you to win two tickets to Måneskin’s upcoming show in Los Angeles.

“HONEY” follows Måneskin’s new album, Rush!, which dropped in January, and features the singles “Supermodel” and “The Loneliest,” as well as the Tom Morello collaboration “Gossip.”

Måneskin will launch a U.S. tour in support of Rush! September 21 in New York City.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

While there have been reports that Britney Spears has been estranged from her sons for a while, it turns out she’s recently reconnected with Sean Preston, 17, and Jayden James, 16, Page Six reports.

Mark Vincent Kaplan, attorney for the boys’ father, Kevin Federline, tells Page Six that they communicated with their mom “probably a couple of weeks ago.”  But Kaplan says he’s not sure if Britney has been in touch with the boys since they moved to Hawaii with their dad.

Kaplan tells Page Six that while Sean and Jayden have experienced some “trauma” due to Hawaii’s deadly wildfires, they haven’t been personally affected. 

“There’s people in the area that are dying and having their homes destroyed, so it’s very traumatic,” Kaplan said to Page Six.  “Obviously, right now, everyone is very sad about what’s going on there with the fires and the casualties from the fires, but other than the trauma from that, they’re very happy to be there.”

Last year, it was alleged that the boys had cut off all communication with Britney; they didn’t attend her wedding, either. Federline moved them and the rest of his family to Hawaii on August 1, which Britney’s lawyer said she had consented to.

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Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon doesn’t mince words when it comes to his thoughts about Danny Boyle‘s Sex Pistols series Pistol, which was based on guitarist Steve Jones’ autobiography, Lonely Boy.

In an interview with The Sun, Lydon says he watched the FX series “just to see how absurd it was” and notes, “I’m sad to say it fulfilled all my negative expectations.”

“I didn’t recognize the characters. It was so disappointing that the whole thing was done behind my back  ’cos  I’m the bloke who wrote the songs and created the image. So bizarre,” he says. “It was like an act of rebellion against what made the band popular and famous. Or unpopular and infamous!”

In the same interview, Lydon rails against suggestions that the punk scene came out of New York, suggesting you only have to look at artists like T. Rex, David Bowie and Mott The Hoople to know that isn’t true.

“Their influence was enormous,” he says. “And they try to write that all off and wrap it around Patti Smith. It’s so wrong!”

Finally, Lydon shares his thoughts on the recent supergroup Generation Sex, featuring Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols, and Billy Idol and Tony James of Generation X.

“Good luck to them but come on boys, get it together,” he says. “The Pistols side of it is songs they never really understood and Billy’s got to come in as a translator. What has poor Billy taken on?”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

for KING & COUNTRY‘s What Are We Waiting For? will be getting the deluxe treatment on September 15. Featured on the expanded 17-song project are two new originals, as well as the Hillary Scott-assisted “For God Is With Us.” Fans can preorder and presave What Are We Waiting For? + now.

Mickey Guyton has teamed up with Maroon 5 on their new song “Middle Ground.” “I am so, so grateful to @maroon5 for letting me be a part of this beautiful song. I hope y’all love it as much as I do,” Mickey shares on X, formerly known as Twitter.

New River House Artists/Warner Music Nashville artist Austin Snell has announced his debut EP, Muddy Water Rockstar, is arriving September 8. The latest preview of the project is the rocking “Send You The Bill.”

Up-and-comer Delaney Ramsdell has dropped her rootsy new song, “Travelin’ Light.” The track was co-written by Delaney and features a breezy production led by prominent steel guitar lines.

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