Clarence Carter, the iconic blues and soul musician celebrated for his distinctive raspy, emotional vocals and a string of hits, has passed away at the age of 90. His death on Wednesday from natural causes was confirmed by Bill Carpenter, a spokesman for his former wife and fellow singer, Candi Staton.

Born blind in Montgomery, Alabama, Carter was a self-taught guitarist who pursued a music major at Alabama State College, laying the groundwork for a prolific career. He rose to significant fame in 1970 with his most commercially successful song, “Patches.” This poignant ballad, which tells the story of a poor country boy forced to mature and manage his family's farm after his father's death, reached an impressive No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 1970 album of the same name also marked his highest chart performance on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 44.

While known for sentimental tracks, Carter also carved a niche with his exuberantly raunchy and funky songs. “Strokin’,” a talking ode to sex, exemplifies this side of his artistry. Although too explicit for mainstream radio, it became a beloved standard on nightclub jukeboxes and gained wider recognition through its inclusion in Eddie Murphy’s 1996 film remake of The Nutty Professor. Another fan favorite, “Making Love on the Dark End of the Street,” showcased his narrative skill in recounting the lengths to which humans and other creatures go in the pursuit of passion. His discography also featured other prominent songs exploring themes of illicit love, including the 1968 No. 6 Hot 100 hit “Slip Away” and “Back Door Santa.”

Carter's musical journey was marked by notable collaborations and influences. His bluesy track “The Road of Love” famously featured Duane Allman, who was then a lesser-known session musician and rocker but would soon co-found The Allman Brothers Band and contribute significantly to records by artists like Eric Clapton and Wilson Pickett. Furthermore, his powerful song “Tell Daddy” served as the foundational inspiration for Etta James’s classic “Tell Mama.” Many of Carter's biggest hits were recorded at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a hallowed ground where other soul luminaries such as Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin also laid down their tracks. In his later years, Carter continued to record, releasing music through the now-defunct Ichiban Records and his own label, Cee Gee Entertainment.

Beyond his musical endeavors, Clarence Carter had a brief marriage to Candi Staton in the 1970s, and together they had a son, Clarence Carter Jr. Reflecting on his enduring passion for music in a 2012 interview with The Montgomery Advertiser, Carter stated, “I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be going, but I’m going to keep going until something tells me it’s time to quit or Old Man Death comes to run me down.” His prolific career and distinctive sound left an indelible mark on the landscape of blues and soul music.