Clarence Avant, known as the Godfather of Black Music was at the center of a home invasion early Wednesday morning that ended tragically. His wife, Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed in their Trousdale Estates home near Beverly Hills. Police do not know how many suspects were involved. However, they are reporting that one suspect made their way into the home and shot Mrs. Avant in the stomach. She was alert when paramedics arrived, but later passed away at the hospital. At this time no motive is known and no arrests have been made. However, Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook says the attack did not appear to be random.
Clarence Avant and Jacqueline were married for 54 years. Clarence was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has a documentary on Netflix titled, “The Black Godfather“. Mrs. Avant served as the President of the Neighbors of Watts, a support group that focused on child care. She was also on the Board of Directors of UCLA’s International Student Center. Jacqueline Avant was 81 years old. RIP
Clarence Avant Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
ShareHOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 07: Music Executive Clarence Avant (R) and his wife Jacqueline Avant attend a ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
The Recording Academy’s 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award
ShareLOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Producer Clarence Avant and wife Jackie arrive at The Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards ceremony held at the Wilshire Ebell Theater on February 9, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
BET’s Pre-Grammy Brunch
ShareBEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Clarence Avant and wife Jackie Avant attend BET's Pre-Grammy Brunch at The Four Seasons Hotel on February 12, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET)
National Museum of African American Music – NMAAM 2016 Black Music Honors – Arrivals
ShareNASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 18: Jacqueline and Clarence Avant attend the NMAAM 2016 Black Music Honors on August 18, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for National Museum of African American Music )
The Recording Academy And Clive Davis’ 2019 Pre-GRAMMY Gala – Arrivals
ShareBEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Clarence Avant and Jacqueline Avant attend The Recording Academy And Clive Davis' 2019 Pre-GRAMMY Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Netflix’s “The Black Godfather”
ShareHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: (L-R) Music executive Clarence Avant and his wife Jacqueline Avant attend Premiere Of Netflix's "The Black Godfather" at Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios lot on June 03, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
National Museum of African American Music – NMAAM 2016 Black Music Honors – Show
ShareNASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 18: Clarence and Jacqueline Avant and Jimmy Jam attend NMAAM 2016 Black Music Honors on August 18, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for National Museum of African American Music )
Netflix World Premiere Of “THE BLACK GODFATHER
ShareLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: Jacqueline Avant and Clarence Avant attend Netflix world premiere of "THE BLACK GODFATHER at the Paramount Theater on June 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Netflix World Premiere Of “THE BLACK GODFATHER
ShareLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: (L-R) Jacqueline Avant, Queen Latifah and Clarence Avant attend Netflix world premiere of "THE BLACK GODFATHER at the Paramount Theater on June 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean “Diddy” Combs – Inside
ShareBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 25: (L-R) Jacqueline Avant and Clarence Avant attend the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean "Diddy" Combs on January 25, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Premiere Of Disney’s “The Lion King” – Red Carpet
ShareHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: (L-R) Jacqueline Avant and Clarence Avant attend the premiere of Disney's "The Lion King" at Dolby Theatre on July 09, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean “Diddy” Combs – Inside
ShareBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 25: (L-R) Dionne Warwick, Clarence Avant, and Jacqueline Avant attend the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean "Diddy" Combs on January 25, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
45th NAACP Image Awards Presented By TV One – Red Carpet
SharePASADENA, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Music executive Clarence Avant (L) and wife Jacqueline Avant attend the 45th NAACP Image Awards presented by TV One at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by John Sciulli/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
City Of Hope’s Spirit Of Life 2019 Gala – Arrivals
ShareSANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Jacqueline Avant and Clarence Avant attend the City Of Hope's Spirit of Life 2019 Gala held at The Barker Hanger on October 10, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/Getty Images)
20th Annual “A Midsummer Night’s Magic” – Inside
ShareLOS ANGELES - JULY 13: Founder and host Earvin "Magic" Johnson and producer Clarence Avant speak on stage during the 20th Annual "Midsummer Night's Magic Awards Dinner" on July 13, 2005 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
Barry Weiss Honored with UJA Federation of NY’s 2009 Music Visionary Award
ShareNEW YORK - JUNE 18: Jamie Foxx and Clarence Avant attend the UJA Federation of New York's 2009 Music Visionary Award at The Pierre Hotel on June 18, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Sony Music)
41st NAACP Image Awards – Backstage And Audience
ShareLOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 26: NAACP Image Hall of Fame winner Clarence Avant and actor Jamie Foxx during the 41st NAACP Image awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on February 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NAACP)
BET Honors 2013: Debra Lee Pre-Dinner
ShareWASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 11: Clarence Avant and Chaka Khan attend BET Honors 2013: Debra Lee Pre-Dinner at The Library of Congress on January 11, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
BET Honors 2013: Show
ShareWASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: (L-R) Lisa Leslie, T.D. Jakes, Halle Berry, Clarence Avant and Chaka Khan onstage at BET Honors 2013 at Warner Theatre on January 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images for BET)
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds Honored On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
ShareHOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 10: Songwriter/record producer Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and music producer Clarence Avant attend a ceremony honoring Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds with the 2508th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 10, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
PUMA At The Roc Nation And Three Six Zero Pre-GRAMMY Brunch 2015
ShareBEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 07: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Clarence Avant and BET Chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee attend Roc Nation and Three Six Zero Pre-GRAMMY Brunch 2015 at Private Residence on February 7, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for PUMA)
Clarence Avant Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
ShareHOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 07: Singer-songwriter Bill Withers (R) speaks onstage at a ceremony honoring Music Executive Clarence Avant (L) with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Clarence Avant Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
ShareHOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 07: Singer-songwriter Bill Withers (R) speaks onstage at a ceremony honoring Music Executive Clarence Avant (L) with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Clarence Avant Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
ShareHOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 07: Record Producer Quincy Jones (L) attends a ceremony honoring Music Executive Clarence Avant (R) with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Clarence Avant Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
ShareHOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 07: (L-R) Record producer Terry Lewis, recording artist Kenneth 'BabyFace' Edmonds, Honoree/Music Executive Clarence Avant, Music Executive L.A. Reid, and Record producer Jimmy Jam Harris attend a ceremony honoring Music Executive Clarence Avant with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Clarence Avant – Arrivals
ShareBEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Quincy Jones (L) and Industry Icons Award honoree Clarence Avant attend the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Clarence Avant at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for NARAS)
Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Clarence Avant – Inside
ShareBEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Nancy Pelosi (L), and honoree Clarence Avant at the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Clarence Avant at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Clarence Avant – Inside
ShareBEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Honoree Clarence Avant accepts the Industry Icons Award onstage during the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Clarence Avant at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Netflix World Premiere Of “THE BLACK GODFATHER
ShareLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: Snoop Dogg, Clarence Avant and Andre Harrell attend Netflix world premiere of "THE BLACK GODFATHER at the Paramount Theater on June 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Netflix World Premiere Of “THE BLACK GODFATHER
ShareLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: (L-R) Steve McKeever, Clarence Avant and Quincy Jones attend Netflix world premiere of "THE BLACK GODFATHER at the Paramount Theater on June 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Netflix World Premiere Of “THE BLACK GODFATHER
ShareLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: Jamie Foxx, Jon Platt, Byron Phillips, Clarence Avant, Jeff Dixon, Shaka Zulu, Andre Harrell, Jesse Collins and Alexander Devore Avant attend Netflix world premiere of "THE BLACK GODFATHER at the Paramount Theater on June 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Netflix World Premiere Of “THE BLACK GODFATHER
ShareLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: Snoop Dogg and Clarence Avant attend Netflix world premiere of "THE BLACK GODFATHER at the Paramount Theater on June 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Arrivals
ShareCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Ted Sarandos, Clarence Avant, and Jimmy Jam attend the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Inside
ShareCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Questlove, Nicole Avant, Ted Sarandos, and Clarence Avant attend the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame )
36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Press Room
ShareCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Nicole Avant and Clarence Avant attend the press room during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Inside
ShareCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Lionel Richie presents Clarence Avant the Ahmet Ertegun Award onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame )
36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Inside
ShareCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Clarence Avant speaks onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame )
36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Inside
ShareCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Lionel Richie presents the Ahmet Ertegun Award to Clarence Avant onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame )
36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Arrivals
ShareCLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Clarence Avant attends the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Tyler Perry
My heart breaks for Clarence and Nicole and all the Avant family. This world can be so cruel and cold!! I have no idea what kind of sub-human could shoot an 81 year old woman, and in her own home. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/bq6ApaN12a
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 1, 2021Tyler Perry
But you can rest assured that every available resource will be used to find whoever is responsible for this awful nightmare. This is tremendously sad. (2/2)
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 1, 2021Quincy Jones
Dearest Jacquie, I will forever miss your gentle smile, your “side-eye” glances, & the beauty that inhabited every fiber of your heart. God Bless you.
— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) December 2, 2021
📸 @candyTman pic.twitter.com/IArDfQrilgQuincy Jones
The heaviness of my heart today is unlike any other that I have ever experienced in my life…The news of the tragic loss of my beautiful “sister-in-law” Jacquie Avant is devastating beyond words.
— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) December 2, 2021Quincy Jones
She was the purest of souls in every sense, & was the Rock of Gibraltar for Clarence, their children, her friends, & community. We are all, every single one of us, better people because Jacquie was in our lives.
— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) December 2, 2021Downtown Julie Brown
My god!!!Legendary music executive #ClarenceAvant wife shot dead by robbers at home Trousdale Estates LA. What is going on!!! So awful, so so sad. RIP #JacquelineAvant .. this makes me sick :(((((
— Downtown Julie Brown (@DTJB) December 1, 2021Anthony Foxx
https://twitter.com/anthonyfoxx/status/1466192988183404547?s=20
Bernice King
I just don’t have the words…I’m praying for the Avant family. https://t.co/UgZYILnudz
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) December 2, 2021Elgin Charles
I am gutted by news of the tragic passing of Jacqueline Avant, who I've known for well over 30yrs, and who I spent time with just recently. Sending my deepest condolences to Clarence, Nicole, Alex and the entire Avant family. 🕊️🙏🏾🕊️
— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) December 1, 2021LaToya Jackson
So saddened to hear the devastating news regarding Jacqueline Avant! What a kind beautiful elegant soul she was. My condolences are with the entire Avant family. Our Prayers are with you! 🙏 #RIP pic.twitter.com/TqL0Ee0lVQ
— La Toya Jackson (@latoyajackson) December 1, 2021Martin Luther King III
This news is beyond horrific. Arndrea, Yolanda Renee and I send our love & prayers to Clarence Avant and his family as they mourn the tremendous loss of Jacqueline Avant.❤️🙏🏾 https://t.co/HKRSZJA0Ao
— Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) December 1, 2021
