Clarence Carter, the blues and soul musician and singer/songwriter with the raspy, emotional vocals whose hits included the sentimental “Patches” and the salacious “Strokin,’” has died at age 90.

Carter’s death was confirmed by Bill Carpenter, a spokesman for his former wife and fellow singer, Candi Staton. Carter died Wednesday of natural causes, according to Carpenter.

He was born blind in Montgomery, Alabama, Carter taught himself guitar and studied music at Alabama State College.

He became famous in 1970 with “Patches,” a hit song about a boy who has to take over his family after his father dies.

He also made more playful and explicit funk songs like “Strokin’,” which was popular in clubs, and other tracks such as “Slip Away” and “Back Door Santa.” His music mixed emotional storytelling with bold, fun themes.

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.