We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Clarence Avant, ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ dies at 92
Clarence Avant, the entertainment executive who is counted among the music world's most impactful figures, died over the weekend, a statement from his family said Monday. He was 92 years old. Avant "passed away gently at home" in Los Angeles on Sunday, said his children Nicole and Alex Avant, as well as Nicole's husband, Netflix executive Ted Sarandos. "Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as 'The Black Godfather' in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports," the statement said. "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 joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss." Avant was born on 25 February 1931 in small-town North Carolina, the oldest of eight. After spending most of his childhood in North Carolina he moved to New Jersey as a teenager, getting his start in the music business as a club manager of Teddy P's Lounge in Newark. He later was mentored by the longtime Louis Armstrong manager Joe Glaser. He went on to become one of the most revered players in music and beyond, an advocate and mentor who pushed the boundaries for Black entertainers in an industry rife with racism. Avant helped establish Venture Records, the first joint effort between a Black-owned music company and a major record label, in this case, MGM. He later launched Sussex Records and signed the likes of Bill Withers. Avant worked at an array of other labels, produced films, and also brokered deals for Black athletes including baseball superstar Hank Aaron. "He's the perennial godfather of our business," Quincy Jones said in 2006, in an interview with Billboard. "Everyone in our business has been by Clarence's desk if they’re smart." 'True pioneer' Avant also consulted at Motown and worked with other top producers including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as well as Babyface. He's been credited with burnishing the careers of countless artists, including Jones as well as Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, and Whitney Houston. "Clarence Avant connects us all through his incredible impact since before I was born up until now. He's the godfather to so many of us -- and not just African Americans, most of the industry," Pharrell said in a statement in 2019, ahead of the release of the Netflix documentary "The Black Godfather." In 2021, Avant's wife of over 50 years, Jacqueline, was fatally shot at age 81, during a break-in of the couple's Beverly Hills home. Earlier that year Avant received special accolades from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Recording Academy has also bestowed a number of honors on him and in 2007 he received the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP. Tributes to Avant began pouring out upon news of his death, including from Jay-Z's company Roc Nation, which hailed him "a true pioneer" who "burst through doors and tore down ceilings, changing lives and providing opportunities for generations." "Clarence Avant isn't just the 'Godfather Of Black Music,' he is our cultural Godfather," the company said. Bill and Hillary Clinton, the former US president and secretary of state, said in a joint statement they were "saddened by the passing of our friend." "It was impossible to spend time with him and not come away feeling more positive and wanting to follow his example." The post Clarence Avant, ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ dies at 92 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Legendary Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown dies at 87
Jim Brown, the legendary Cleveland Browns running back who was one of the NFL's most prolific players and a civil rights icon has died at the age of 87, his family and the team confirmed on Friday. Brown's wife, Monique, had announced on Instagram that Brown "passed peacefully" on Thursday night at their home in Los Angeles. "To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star," said the post, which did not disclose a precise cause of death. "To our family, he was a loving and wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken..." Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslem issued a statement calling Brown "a true icon of not just the Cleveland Browns but the entire NFL. "He was certainly the greatest to ever put on a Browns uniform and arguably one of the greatest players in NFL history," the Haslems said. Brown, who was named the greatest football player ever by the Sporting News in 2002, was taken in the first round of the 1957 draft and played for the Browns from 1957-65. He led the NFL in rushing in eight of those seasons and finished his career with 12,312 rushing yards and 5.2 carries per game. He was named to the Pro Bowl every season he played and led Cleveland to the NFL championship game three times, winning the title in 1964. The three-time Most Valuable Player ran for at least 100 yards in 58 of his 118 regular-season games, and never missed a game. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in seven seasons. That included 1,527 yards in one 12-game season and 1,863 in a 14-game season. James Nathaniel Brown was born in St. Simons Island, Georgia, in 1936 and was a high school star in football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and athletics. He continued to excel as a multi-sport athlete at Syracuse University, his football career gaining steam when he totaled 986 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior year. The Browns selected Brown with the sixth overall pick in the 1957 draft and he made an immediate impact in coach Paul Brown's offense. He led the league his rookie season with 942 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, including a 237-yard performance in his ninth game that stood as the most in a single game in league history for 14 years. He was named MVP that season and remains the only rookie to capture the award. "(Coach Paul Brown) liked me," Brown said in the NFL Network's "A Football Life." "He said to me, 'You are my running back. You are my running back.' It was the sweetest words I've ever heard as a professional football player." Brown was still at his peak when he retired at the age of 30, shocking the sports world. He had led the league in rushing and touchdowns in his final season but announced his retirement while on the set filming "The Dirty Dozen" in London. A hand in the struggle A day after retiring, Brown told Sports Illustrated pro football writer Tex Maule: "I could have played longer. I wanted to play this year, but it was impossible. "We're running behind schedule shooting here, for one thing. I want more mental stimulation than I would have playing football. I want to have a hand in the struggle that is taking place in our country, and I have the opportunity to do that now. I might not a year from now." A year later, Brown founded the Negro Industrial and Economic Union, an organization that would later be known as the Black Economic Union. The goal of the organization was to guide black entrepreneurs, and the organization became the nucleus of Brown's efforts to make the country a more equal place for African Americans. On 4 June 1967, Brown participated in the Cleveland Summit, joining with other prominent Black athletes at the Black Economic Union's offices in Cleveland to interview boxer Muhammad Ali and decide whether to support his stand against being inducted into the US armed forces during the Vietnam War. The group decided to back Ali, the decision becoming a symbol of Black unity during the Civil Rights movement in America. The post Legendary Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown dies at 87 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lapu-Lapu accident: Motorcycle rider killed in road collision in Pajac
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — A 30-year-old man was killed in an accident that happened early on Sunday morning on H-Mall Road in Barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City. The victim was identified as Roger Valiente, a resident of Sitio Abuna in the same barangay. ALSO READ: Lapu-Lapu accident: Rider dies after his motorcycle slams into parked truck.....»»
Eric Carmen, the Raspberries frontman and ‘All by Myself’ and Hungry Eyes singer, dies at 74
Eric Carmen, the Raspberries frontman and ‘All by Myself’ and Hungry Eyes singer, dies at 74.....»»
LIVE updates: Oscars 2024
The 96th Academy Awards began Sunday with host Jimmy Kimmel offering jokes about the major nominees, as "Oppenheimer" was poised for big Oscars glory......»»
Drug suspect dies in sting after jumping off window
A suspected drug pusher died after he jumped from a window when he resisted arrest in Davao City on Tuesday night......»»
Lapu-Lapu accident: Rider dies after his motorcycle slams into parked truck
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu— A 29-year-old motorist died after his motorcycle crashed into a dump truck on Tuesday, around 4:00 a.m., at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City. The motorcycle rider was identified as Randelo Escario Tayo, a resident of Kodia, Madredijos town in Bantayan Island. READ: Lapu-Lapu accident: 2 dead after motorcycle.....»»
Rider dies after crashing into stalled dump truck at 2nd Mandaue-Mactan bridge
Rider dies after crashing into stalled dump truck at 2nd Mandaue-Mactan bridge.....»»
Actress Jaclyn Jose dies at 60
(1st UPDATE) She was the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win best actress at the Cannes Film Festival, for her leading turn as a matriarch and meth dealer in Brillante Mendoza's 'Ma' Rosa'.....»»
Minor bicyclist dies in accident
A 15-year-old died after his shoelace accidentally got caught in the pedal of the bicycle he was riding along Hilltop, Barangay Langub in Davao City on Friday morning, March 1......»»
Cotabato City LGU disaster response official dies in ambush
Gunmen killed the operations chief of the Cotabato City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in an ambush here on Friday night, an incident that saddened the personnel of different government and private volunteer emergency response contingents he was closely associated with......»»
Infant dies in Cagayan de Oro fire
A baby died in a fire that razed a residential area in this city on Thursday......»»
Cop dies after falling from vehicle, struck by pickup
A policeman died after he was run over by a pickup when he fell from a patrol car in this province early yesterday......»»
Crewmember dies after falling from ship
A crewmember died after he fell from a passenger vessel off the coast of Loon, Bohol on Friday......»»
Too heated: Butler, 3 others ejected as tempers flare in Heat-Pelicans duel
Heat star Jimmy Butler and three other players get thrown out following a brawl during an emotional Heat-Pelicans battle.....»»
Jimmy Butler ejected in 4th-quarter scuffle but not before helping Heat top Pelicans 106-95
Jimmy Butler ejected in 4th-quarter scuffle but not before helping Heat top Pelicans 106-95.....»»
Ata leader Amban dies at 58
THE supreme leader of the Ata tribe in Davao City, Kunulan Jose "Joe" Amban, has passed away at the age of 58......»»
Quietly delivering
When Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista was still president of Philippine Airlines, I had a long conversation with him about the need to expand and upgrade the facilities at NAIA......»»
Veteran director Tikoy Aguiluz dies at 72
The Filipino film community has taken to social media to mourn their loss.....»»
Tour guide dies after accidentally falling off cliff in Bataan
A local tourist guide in his late 30s fell off a cliff in Mariveles, Bataan last Thursday night, resulting in injuries and later on death......»»