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“He always had a car to pick me up and I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ â€Said Ms. Avant. “One day, I guess, he was really trying to convince me and for some reason he mentioned how much he paid the Internal Revenue Service.”
In the documentary, the actors and producers who knew the couple marveled at the longevity of their marriage and their fierce loyalty to each other.
“They look so amazing,†actor Jamie Foxx said. “They always look like they have a wedding cake on their feet, like they’ve just stepped out of a soul wedding cake.”
Ms. Avant was a past president of the Neighbors of Watts, a charity that provided prestigious benefits to support child care and other needs. She was also a primary school teacher and an avid collector of Japanese lacquered boxes.
Mr. Avant started Sussex Records in 1969 and signed Bill Withers, releasing some of his best-known songs including “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Use Me” and “Lean on Me”. In 1971, he launched Avant Garde Broadcasting, one of the country’s first black-owned radio stations, according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Mr. Avant was inducted into the hall in May.
Over the years, Mr. Avant has also worked with Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Babyface. He helped promote Michael Jackson’s “Bad” world tour in 1987 and served as chairman of the board of Motown Records, according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The couple’s daughter, Nicole A. Avant, was the producer of “The Black Godfather,” which featured testimony from Mr. Obama and Mr. Clinton, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris, then a presidential candidate. Nicole Avant is married to Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, and former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas.
