"Patches" and "Strokin'" hitmaker Clarence Carter dies
SoulTracks • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Clarence Carter, a legendary soul singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for his contributions to Southern Soul Music, has died at age 90.
- Born blind in Montgomery, Alabama, Carter earned a music degree from Alabama State University and rose to fame with hits like “Slip Away,” “Too Weak to Fight,” and “Patches.”
- His music blended deep blues, country-soul, gospel, and humor, with notable songs including “Tell Daddy,” “Back Door Santa,” and the party anthem “Strokin’.”
- Carter was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2003 and received two Grammy nominations during his career spanning over six decades.
- He remains a beloved and influential figure in soul and blues music, leaving a lasting legacy in the genre.