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Clarence Carter, the southern soul musician who rose to fame in the 1960s, has died at age 90.
The hitmaker behind songs like "Patches" and "Slip Away" passed away at his home in Decatur, Ga., on Wednesday (May 13), per Rolling Stone.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend Clarence Carter," Rodney Hall, president of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala., where Carter recorded, said in a statement shared on Facebook. "Clarence recorded many of his greatest hits at FAME Studios and remained part of the FAME family for more than four decades. He was far more than an artist to us. He was family."
No further details or cause of death was given at the time.
"The contributions Clarence made to FAME, the Muscle Shoals Sound, and American music cannot be overstated," Hall continued. "Beyond being one of the most distinctive and soulful voices in music history, he was also a remarkably tasteful guitar player and an exceptional songwriter who penned many of his own hits. He did all of this while overcoming blindness from the age of one. Clarence Carter leaves behind a legacy of timeless music, unforgettable performances, and a friendship we will always cherish. We extend our love and prayers to his family, friends, and fans around the world."
Born blind in Montgomery, Ala., Carter became a self-taught guitarist and would go on to form the duo Calvin & Clarence with Calvin Scott, another blind musician. After Scott retired from music due to a car accident, Carter launched a successful solo career, eventually winning the Grammy for Best R&B Song in 1971 for "Patches."