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In 1969, Avant helped produce the off Broaday play The Reckoning, starring Dubois. The entertainer would go on to star as Wilona in the groundbreaking TV sitcom “Good Times.” She would also write and sing the theme song for another trailblazing TV series, “The Jeffersons.” The song would become one of TV’s most beloved theme songs.
3. Stax Records
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Avant was regarded as a prized deal-maker. He was recruited by music executive Al Bell to help sell the legendary soul music label, Stax Records, to Gulf+Western. Notably, the antithesis to Motown, Stax specialized in gritty and rough-sounding soul music. Its artist roster included Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding and more.
4. Sussex Records
Source:BlkHistStudies
After the folding of Venture Records, Avant launched Sussex Records in Hollywood, CA, in 1969.
5. Bill Withers
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One of Sussex Records’ most successful artists was Bill Withers, whose 1971 LP Just As I Am scored a Grammy for the hit single “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Withers’ other hits, like “Lean on Me” and “Grandma’s Hands,” have been sampled by notable hip hop and R&B acts from Big Daddy Kane to Blackstreet.
6. Acquiring LA Radio Station KYTM
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After establishing Avant Garde Broadcasting in 1971, Avant bought KTYM (later named KAGB), the first African-American owned FM radio station in metropolitan Los Angeles, in 1973.
7. Chuck Brown And The Soul Searchers
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In the early ’70s, Chuck Brown and his famous band, The Soul Searchers, signed to Sussex. The heavy percussive and afro-Latin-influenced sound of Brown’s music helped define a new funk sub-genre, Go-Go music, coming out of Washington, D.C. The sounds of Go-Go are still felt today.
8. Tabu Records
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Once Sussex Records folded, Avant founded Tabu Productions (better known as Tabu Records) in 1976. The label would found major success on the music charts throughout the 1980s and early ’90s.
9. Kool & The Gang
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In the early ’90s, groundbreaking R&B band Kool & the Gang signed to Tabu. Since their debut in the early ’70s, this ensemble has cranked out pop classics like “Lady’s Night” and “Celebrate.” And their early funk hits, including “N.T.” and “Jungle Boogie,” have been sampled numerous times by hit hip hop artists.
10. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
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Though they never signed to Tabu Records, the iconic producer and songwriting duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis began their record producing career crafting hit tunes for acts on Avant’s label. Jam and Lewis would go on to define the dance-able electronic sound of funky R&B from the mid- to late ’80s.
11. The S.O.S. Band
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In 1983, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis began producing hits for Atlanta-born R&B group The S.O.S. Band. Among the classic tracks the duo wrote for the band were “Just Be Good to Me,” “Tell Me If You Still Care” and “Just the Way You Like It.”
12. Cherrelle
Source:Legend107Radio
Singer Cherelle was another Tabu artist Jam and Lewis turned into a hit-making R&B act. Her R&B radio hit “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On” was covered by both Robert Palmer and Mariah Carey.
13. Michael Jackson
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In 1987, Avant helped to promote Michael Jackson’s first solo tour, for the LP Bad. As Michael Jackson was one of the biggest selling pop music artists in history, his tour added four new entries in the Guinness Book of World Records. It was the largest grossing tour in history, the tour with the largest attended audience and the most successful concert series.
14. Motown
Source:BluePurpleMusic
After Polygram acquired Motown Records in 1993, Avant was named Chairman of the Board of Motown Records.
15. Alexander O’Neal
Source:RnB_DITR
Soul crooner Alexander O’Neal was a Tabu Records superstar who scored late ’80s radio hits like “Fake,” “If You Were Here Tonight” and “Criticize.” With his smooth, baritone vocals and a look tinted with urban edge, O’Neal’s success was a precursor to the stardom of up-and-coming soul men like Brian McKnight, Eric Benét and R. Kelly.
