Clarence Carter, the blind Southern soul star whose songs were often as emotionally profound as they were delightfully bawdy, has left an indelible mark on the music world. His ability to blend raw emotion with ribald humor was truly unique, and his hits like 'Slip Away' and 'Patches' continue to resonate with audiences today. But what makes Carter's story so fascinating is not just his musical prowess, but also the challenges he faced as a blind man in the music industry. In this article, I'll explore Carter's journey, his impact on the music scene, and the lessons we can learn from his perseverance and determination.
A Musical Journey
Carter's musical journey began in Montgomery, Alabama, where he was born in 1936. As a child, he was gifted a guitar for Christmas and taught himself how to play by listening to other people's records. This early exposure to music laid the foundation for his future success. Despite being blind, Carter's passion for music drove him to attend the Alabama School for the Blind and later study music at Alabama State College. It was during his time at college that he formed the duo Clarence & Calvin, later known as the C&C Boys, with another blind student, Calvin Scott.
The duo released a handful of singles during the early 1960s, but it wasn't until they traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and recorded at Rick Hall's FAME Studios that they began to gain traction. One of their songs, 'Step By Step,' earned the attention of Jerry Wexler, who released it on the Atlantic imprint, Atco. However, it failed to chart.
It was around this time that Carter and Scott were involved in a car crash that left Scott severely injured. A dispute over medical bills led to the group's demise, and the two embarked on separate solo careers. Carter continued to work with Hall and his FAME label, releasing his debut single, 'Tell Daddy,' in 1967. It was a modest success that turned into a major one after Etta James cut a response called 'Tell Mama' that peaked at Number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A Star is Born
Carter soon began turning out hits of his own, often backed by the celebrated session players at FAME. He wrote all the arrangements in braille and then had them transcribed for the others. Duane Allman, a FAME player in his pre-Allman Brothers Band days, said of Carter in a 1971 Rolling Stone article, 'He's the most amazingly perceptive man I ever met.'
In 1968, Carter returned to Atlantic as a solo artist, and the success of 'Slip Away' was buoyed by hits like the Gold-certified 'Too Weak to Fight' and 'Looking for a Fox.' Over the next two years, he placed seven songs in the Top 10 of the R&B charts, including 'Snatching it Back,' 'The Feeling Is Right,' 'Doin' Our Thing,' and 'I Can't Leave You Alone.' His b-sides, too, frequently became favorites, chief among them a take on James Carr's classic, 'The Dark End of the Street,' reworked in quintessential Carter fashion as, 'Making Love (At the Dark End of the Street).'
The Power of Perseverance
After the pinnacle of 'Patches,' Carter continued to work regularly, but never had the same kind of commercial appeal. He left Atlantic, returned to the Fame label, and scored a minor hit in 1973 with 'Sixty Minute Man.' After that, he jumped to ABC Records, but a career revival failed to materialize.
In the early 1980s, Carter released several albums, and even built a studio in the basement of his Atlanta home, where he taught himself how to program keyboards and work with computers. As he told Rolling Stone in 1986, 'I think I got another Top Ten record in me. With the right amount of exposure, I know I could have it.'
A massive smash never arrived, but 'Strokin',', released that same year, did sell 1.5 million copies, despite being too raunchy for radio (it primarily gained traction thanks to jukebox plays). The track helped anchor a late-career resurgence for Carter, who released several albums on the independent Atlanta label, Ichiban Records, many of which placed on the R&B Albums Chart.
A Lasting Legacy
Carter continued to write, record, and release music, as well as tour, well into his 80s. His last record, 'Mr. Old School,' arrived in January 2020 on his own Cee Gee Entertainment label, while in 2024, he dropped a new single, 'Danger Point.'
In a 1998 interview with The New York Times, Carter spoke about the persistence that seemed to define his long and successful career. 'Give me a challenge and you'll make me work,' he said. 'I'm determined to do what folks say I can't, and it has to do with a lot of factors, especially when you're blind. I remember hearing a lady say to my mother one day when I was a kid, 'I guess you're going to have to take care of him the rest of your life.' I never forgot that because I was determined that before the lady left this earth she'd know my mom wouldn't have to take care of me.'
Carter's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination. Despite the challenges he faced as a blind man in the music industry, he never gave up on his dreams. His ability to blend raw emotion with ribald humor was truly unique, and his hits like 'Slip Away' and 'Patches' continue to resonate with audiences today. Carter's legacy will live on through his music, and his story will continue to inspire generations to come.
