Soul legend Clarence Carter, the blind singer behind catchy hits like "Strokin'" and heartfelt anthems "Patches" and "Slip Away," has died at 90. A family spokesperson shared he was recently diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and passed away due to complications associated with his illness, per Rolling Stone.

The news broke on Thursday (May 14) after Rodney Hall, the president of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, confirmed to the outlet. The storied musician was known for his signature sound that mixed raw Southern soul with unapologetic swagger.

Born January 14, 1936, in Montgomery, Alabama, Carter lost his sight to glaucoma as a kid but turned it into fuel for his bluesy guitar riffs and gravelly baritone. He linked up with partner Calvin Thomas in the '60s as the C and C Boys, dropping tracks at Fame Studios before a car crash sidelined Thomas. Going solo, Carter hit big with Atlantic Records: "Slip Away" peaked at No. 6 on the pop charts in 1968, followed by "Too Weak to Fight" and the storytelling gem "Patches," a No. 1 R&B smash about a poor farm boy.

Carter’s talent and sound endured the many transformations of the industry and the times. The late 1980s brought his breakout "Strokin'," a cult classic NSFW slow jam that lingered on Black charts. It became a club staple and, more recently, a viral throwback for younger crowds. Carter continued to perform into his late 80s, a testament to resilience.