Clarence Carter
A soul and blues singer whose raw, gritty voice and sly storytelling turned tales of heartache and mischief into funky, enduring hits.
Born 1936 (age 90)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: January 14·The Silent Generation
Biography
Clarence Carter brought a potent mix of deep Southern soul, country-blues storytelling, and a winking sense of humor to the charts. Blind since infancy, he developed a formidable musical talent at the Alabama School for the Blind, forging a partnership with guitarist Calvin Scott. His breakthrough came with a string of late-60s hits on Atlantic Records, where his rough-hewn, impassioned vocals met lush, Muscle Shoals-style arrangements on songs like 'Slip Away' and 'Patches,' a heart-wrenching story-song that became a global number one. Carter's style never lost its earthy, blues-drenched core, even as he adapted to later trends. Decades on, he found a new, unexpected audience with the risqué party anthem 'Strokin',' proving his ability to connect on a primal level, whether the subject was tear-jerking tragedy or unapologetic fun.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Clarence was born in 1936, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clarence Was Born
The biggest hits of 1936
#1 Movie
San Francisco
Best Picture
The Great Ziegfeld
Clarence's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1936Born
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1941Started school
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1949Became a teenager
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Could drive
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1954Could vote
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Turned 21
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1966Turned 30
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 40
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 50
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 60
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 70
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 80
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Age 90 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 1970 single 'Patches,' a story-song about a poor farmer's son, reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart and number four on the pop chart.
- Recorded the original version of 'Back Door Santa,' a Christmas blues song that has been covered by numerous rock and blues artists.
- Won a Grammy Award in 1968 for his song 'Slip Away' in the category of Best R&B Performance.
- Maintained a consistent touring and recording career for over five decades, evolving from deep soul to Southern funk.
Did You Know?
He earned a degree in music from Alabama State University after attending the Alabama School for the Blind.
Carter is a licensed massage therapist in the state of Georgia.
His song 'Strokin'' became a massive cult hit in the 1990s, particularly in the hip-hop and strip club scenes, long after its initial 1986 release.
He produced and wrote songs for his first wife, soul singer Candi Staton, early in her career.
“Strokin' is the name of the game, and I'm a master of the art.”
