Clarence Carter, the Southern soul singer whose sensual hits like "Slip Away" dominated late 1960s charts, died Thursday at 90. Blind from youth, his deep baritone voice combined preacher fervor with bawdy humor, creating a distinctive sound that influenced generations of musicians and sold millions of records across his six-decade career.

Despite receiving little radio airplay for his sexually explicit lyrics, Carter's 1986 single "Strokin'" defied market expectations by selling more than 1.5 million copies, becoming a jukebox staple and reviving his career when mainstream radio had abandoned his down-home approach. His music found new life through sampling by hip-hop artists including Run-DMC and 2 Live Crew, extending his commercial impact decades after his chart peak.

Carter's business acumen extended beyond his own career when he introduced gospel singer Candi Staton to Rick Hall of FAME Studios, where many of his hits were recorded. This connection led to Staton's dozen-plus R&B hits, demonstrating Carter's role in the music industry's ecosystem. His determination to succeed despite blindness made him not just a musical innovator but a symbol of overcoming professional barriers in entertainment.