Clarence Avant News

In celebration of Hip-Hop at 50, The Living Legends Foundation (LLF) honored and celebrated an esteemed group of media, music, and entertainment legends on October 6, at Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood, CA.

Performers for the ceremony include Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, H.E.R., and Mickey Guyton. Inductees include Carole King, The Go-Go's, Foo Fighters, and more.

The evening of unscripted, unannounced storytellers and performers was hosted by comedian, actor, writer and producer Tone Bell and featured personal behind-the-scenes anecdotes from a lineup of surprise celebrity guests including Kenya Barris, Jon M. Chu, Sharon Lawrence and French Stewart.

Six of the most lauded and influential performing artists across the worlds of pop, hip-hop, jazz, musical theater, and classical music will receive honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee in virtual commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 8.

Musical legends Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox / Dave Stewart p/k/a Eurythmics, Ernie Isley / Marvin Isley / O'Kelly Isley / Ronald Isley / Rudolph Isley / Chris Jasper p/k/a The Isley Brothers, Steve Miller, Chad Hugo / Pharrell Williams p/k/a The Neptunes, Rick Nowels and William “Mickey” Stevenson will become the latest inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization's 51st Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. These legendary songwriters wrote mega-hits such as, 'Vision of Love,”  “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” “Shout,” “The Joker,” “Hollaback Girl,” “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” and “Dancing In The Street.” The star-studded induction event is slated for Thursday, June 11th at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Additional special award honorees will be announced soon.

If you don't know who the soft spoken/humble spirit Bob Sumner is, you must have been hiding under a rock for the past 25 years. Sumner was the co-creator of HBO's Def Comedy Jam, where he worked behind the scenes recruiting the best unrecognized and/or just starting out comedians in the world. As a producer (and many times talent scout), industry influencers consider Sumner a “Career Maker” in the world of comedy. He is often referred to as the “Black” Lorne Michaels (creator of Saturday Night Live and other comedy television shows), others equate him to music industry's Clarence Avant. Either way, he is definitely a force to be reckoned with, and his comic discoveries are legendary.

Tonight, the 23rd Annual “Hollywood Film Awards” brought together Hollywood's elite to honor the year's most talked about and highly anticipated actors, actresses and films, and those who helped bring them to life. The awards ceremony, celebrating its 23rd anniversary as the official launch of the awards season, was hosted by actor and comedian Rob Riggle, and took place at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. In its 23-year history, over 340 of the world's biggest stars and filmmakers have been highlighted at the “Hollywood Film Awards” and more than 140 of the honorees have gone on to garner Oscar nominations and/or wins.

The Hollywood Film Awards announced today that the critically acclaimed worldwide phenomenon, “Avengers: Endgame,” the all-time highest-grossing film in history, will receive the “Hollywood Blockbuster Award,” presented to Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Executive Vice President of Production Victoria Alonso at the 23rd Annual “Hollywood Film Awards.” Additionally, award-winning musical artist and producer Pharrell Williams will be honored at the ceremony with the “Hollywood Song Award” for his song “Letter To My Godfather,” from the Clarence Avant documentary “The Black Godfather.” Actor and comedian Rob Riggle will host the “Hollywood Film Awards,” which will take place on Sunday, November 3, 2019, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

Filmmakers, talent and special guests celebrated Disney's “The Lion King” tonight in Hollywood. The movie, which opens on July 19, 2019, welcomes beloved characters back to the big screen in a whole new way.

For decades, the world's most high profile entertainers, athletes and politicians have turned to a single man for advice during the most pivotal moments in their lives and careers, including Grammy Award® winners, Hall of Famers, a Heavyweight Champion of the World and two U.S. Presidents. That man is Clarence Avant.

The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, continues to deliver on their promise to showcase some of today's hottest talent and provide a platform for emerging artists. This year's lineup will include conversations, screenings and panels with diverse and inspiring filmmakers, icons and industry executives, presented by some of the most innovative brands in entertainment.

The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, continues to deliver on their promise to showcase some of today's hottest talent and provide a platform for emerging artists. This year's lineup will include conversations, screenings and panels with diverse and inspiring filmmakers, icons and industry executives, presented by some of the most innovative brands in entertainment.

Today, the NAACP announced that Anthony Anderson is set to return as host for the 50th NAACP Image Awards. Anderson is a two-time NAACP Image Awards Winner for his role on blackish, and will be hosting the show for the 6th consecutive year. Winners for the 50th NAACP Image Awards will be revealed during the two-hour LIVE TV special airing on TV One on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 9pm/8c from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The Recording Academy and Clive Davis will present the annual Pre-GRAMMY® Gala on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at The Beverly Hilton, the evening preceding the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards®. As part of the celebration, Clarence Avant will be recognized as the 2019 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons® honoree for his groundbreaking contributions to the music industry.

This February, the world-famous Apollo Theater will host a series of artistic and community programs celebrating Black History Month. Since its inception in 1934, the legendary Theater has celebrated and provided a platform for emerging African American talent as one of the first theaters to integrate, and has since been a catalyst for rising artists of diverse backgrounds.

On Sunday, January 14 at 3pm, the Apollo Theater and WNYC are partnering for the fifth year to present WNYC's 12th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, 50 Years After MLK: A Dream Deferred, as part of the Apollo's Uptown Hall series.

The T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer Research has announced its presenters and performers for the 42 nd New York Honors Gala to be held Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at Guastavino's in New York

The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards returned toThe Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 22, 2017 for its 30th annual ceremony. The invitation-only event celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the most performed ASCAP songs on the 2016 R&B/hip-hop, rap and gospel charts.

On Sunday night of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos and U.S. Ambassador Nicole Avant (ret.) hosted a reception and special conversation on behalf of Netflix's original documentary 13TH at their home in Los Angeles.

The Living Legends Foundation, Inc. (LLF) today announces the 2015 honorees for its 19th Living Legends Awards Celebration. The organization returns to Los Angeles for its second awards dinner and gala. The event will be held on Friday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m. at Taglyan Cultural Complex, 1201 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, CA.