WE LOVE YOU, JACKIE

Shock and great sadness are reverberating throughout the music community following reports of the tragic death of Jackie Avant, a beloved philanthropist and, with her husband of 54 years, industry icon Clarence Avant, a nurturer of so many members of our circle.

Jackie served as President of Neighbors of Watts, with UCLA's International Student Center, with NOW and, always, as part of the faithful support system she and Clarence have provided to countless people over the years.

Tributes are pouring in via social media as friends and admirers register their pain and disbelief and pay tribute to an extraordinary human being.

It will take some time to absorb this terrible loss, but here's hoping we can be guided by Jackie's example and be there for each other.