Clarence Carter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clarence Carter
Carter performing in 1995
Background information
Birth name	Clarence George Carter
Born	(1936-01-14) January 14, 1936 (age 89) Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul
Occupation(s)	Singer Songwriter Musician Record producer
Instruments	vocals, guitar
Years active	1962–present
Labels	Fairlane Records Duke Records Atlantic Records Fame Records Ichiban Records
Associated acts	Clarence and Calvin CL Boys

Clarence George Carter (born January 14, 1936) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is also a record producer. Some of his most famous songs include "Slip Away" and "Back Door Santa" from 1968. He also had big hits with "Patches" in 1970 and "Strokin'" in 1986.

Early Life and Education

Clarence Carter was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 14, 1936. He was born blind. He went to the Alabama School for the Blind in Talladega, Alabama. Later, he studied at Alabama State University in Montgomery. He earned a degree in music in August 1960.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out: Clarence & Calvin

Clarence Carter began his music career with his friend Calvin Scott. They formed a duo called Clarence & Calvin. Their first song, "I Wanna Dance But I Don't Know How," came out in 1961. They later joined Duke Records and changed their name to the C & C Boys. They released four more songs, but none became big hits.

In 1965, the duo recorded "Step by Step" at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. This song was released by Atlantic Records' label, Atco, but it also did not become popular.

Going Solo and First Hits

In 1966, Calvin Scott was in a serious car accident. After this, Clarence Carter decided to continue as a solo singer. He started recording for the Fame label. In 1967, he released "Tell Daddy." This song reached number 35 on the Billboard R&B chart. It even inspired another famous singer, Etta James, to record her own song called "Tell Mama."

At the end of 1967, Carter joined Atlantic Records. This was a big step for his career. He soon had many successful songs on both the R&B and pop music charts.

Major Successes and Gold Records

His first big hit with Atlantic was "Slip Away." This song reached number 2 on the R&B chart and number 6 on the pop chart. It was known for his powerful voice. Another hit, "Too Weak to Fight," reached number 3 on the R&B chart and number 13 on the pop chart. Both of these songs sold over a million copies and earned a "Gold" award from the Recording Industry Association of America.

In late 1968, he had a popular holiday song called "Back Door Santa." He also toured around the country. His backing singers included Candi Staton. They later married in 1970 and had a son, Clarence Carter Jr., before they divorced in 1973.

Carter continued to have hits in 1969 and 1970. Songs like "Snatching It Back," "The Feeling Is Right," "Doin' Our Thing," and "I Can't Leave Your Love Alone" all appeared on the US pop and R&B charts.

"Patches" and Later Career

Clarence Carter's biggest hit came in 1970 with his version of "Patches." This song was originally recorded by another group, Chairmen of the Board. Carter's version became a huge hit, reaching number 2 in the UK and number 4 in the US. It sold over one million copies and received another gold award. "Patches" also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1971. This made it Carter's third song to sell over a million copies.

After "Patches," Carter's songs were not as successful. He left Atlantic Records in 1971 and returned to the Fame label. In 1975, he signed with ABC Records and released three albums.

Finding New Audiences

When disco music became popular in the mid-1970s, Carter's music style was less in demand. However, in 1985, he signed with Ichiban Records. He found a new group of fans with songs like "Strokin'" and "Dr. C.C." in the 1980s and 1990s. "Strokin'" was very popular in jukeboxes. It was also used in the Eddie Murphy movie The Nutty Professor and later in the film Killer Joe.

Carter's soul music also became popular with the new hip-hop community. For example, a part of his song "Back Door Santa" was used in the Run-D.M.C. Christmas song "Christmas in Hollis."

Clarence Carter continues to record music and perform. He has released several albums on his own label, Cee Gee Entertainment, since 1996. He regularly tours in the Southern states and other countries. His music still appeals to many fans who enjoy blues and soul artists.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation and live albums

Singles