GODFATHER SAGA

Beyond his stunningly wide-ranging career in music—as an artist manager, label exec, broadcasting magnate and more—Clarence Avant has played an outsize role in the biz and the larger Black community for decades, acting as a steadfast mentor to countless artists, executives, athletes and even U.S. Presidents. Through no small amount of travail and unfathomable tragedy, the man hailed as The Black Godfather has been unfailingly generous with his hard-earned insight. It’s impossible to imagine the present musical and professional landscape without him.