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Soul Legend Clarence Carter Dies at 90
14 May
Summary
- Singer Clarence Carter, known for hits like 'Slip Away', died Thursday.
- He was blind from youth, a precursor to rap, and sampled by hip-hop artists.
- His song 'Patches' reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.
Clarence Carter, a Southern soul singer and guitarist celebrated for his unabashed songs of adultery and lust, died on Thursday at 90. Known for hits like "Slip Away" and "Back Door Santa," Carter's music blended the fervor of a preacher with juke joint humor. He was blind from youth, developing a declamatory baritone and a distinctive laugh that punctuated his recordings.
Carter's influential work, including "Making Love (At the Dark End of the Street)" and the B-side "Snatching It Back," was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. His biggest hit, "Patches," a farmer's son narrative, climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. Carter's spoken-word passages were considered a precursor to rap, a claim he shared with artists like Isaac Hayes and Barry White.
His 1986 hit "Strokin'," despite explicit lyrics, sold over 1.5 million copies and was featured in films. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Carter taught himself guitar and attended the Alabama School for the Blind. After forming the duo Clarence & Calvin, he continued as a solo artist, releasing dozens of albums and performing into his 80s.
