Clarence Carter Passes Away at 90

Clarence Carter, the renowned Southern soul musician known for his deep, raspy voice, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 90. His death was confirmed on Thursday by Bill Carpenter, a representative for his former wife and collaborator, Candi Staton. Carpenter stated he died of “natural causes,” although there were also reports that Carter had been privately battling stage 4 prostate cancer.

Born blind on January 14, 1936, in Montgomery, Alabama, Carter didn’t let his disability inhibit his ambitions. He learned to play guitar by ear and later earned a degree in music from Alabama State College.

Carter’s career kicked off in the early 1960s as part of the duo Clarence & Calvin. However, a tragic car accident that involved his partner, Calvin Scott, led Carter to pursue a solo career. This journey took him to FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, where he contributed to the “Muscle Shoals Sound” alongside other legends like Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett.

His work was noted for its wide-ranging emotional depth. In 1968, he released the powerful tracks “Slip Away” and “Too Weak to Fight,” both showcasing his knack for expressing vulnerability in “cheating songs.”

Yet, it was his 1970 hit “Patches” that truly secured his legacy. The song, which tells a moving story of a boy facing adulthood due to family hardship, became an international hit and won him a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.

Carter’s personal life often intertwined with his music career. He was briefly married to Candi Staton in the early 1970s and they welcomed a son together, Clarence Carter Jr.

Despite the evolving landscape of the music industry, Carter continued to tour extensively into his late 80s. He often remarked that he would perform until “Old Man Death” finally caught up to him.