Clarence Carter, the American soul and blues singer-songwriter known for hits including “Patches” and “Strokin’,” has died at age 90. Multiple outlets report that he was born blind and became a self-taught guitarist. His career included major chart successes in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with songs such as “Patches,” along with “Slip Away,” appearing among his best-known work. “Strokin’” is also widely cited for its later cultural reach, including its use in Eddie Murphy’s film “The Nutty Professor.”
In reporting his death, outlets cite confirmation from his management and link it to health complications involving pneumonia. Deadline and Stereogum additionally report that Carter had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, and that his later decline involved conditions described as pneumonia and sepsis. Rolling Stone and other sources characterize him as a producer and performer who combined emotional and sometimes bawdy themes in his music. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets also note his Grammy nomination.
