Clarence George Carter (born January 14, 1936) is an American blues and soul singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. His most successful songs include “Slip Away“, “Back Door Santa” (both released 1968), “Patches” (1970) and “Strokin” (1986).

Born blind in Montgomery, Alabama on January 14, 1936, Carter attended the Alabama School for the Blind in Talladega, Alabama, and Alabama State College in Montgomery, graduating in August 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in music. His professional music career began with friend Calvin Scott, signing to the Fairlane label to release “I Wanna Dance But I Don’t Know How”, as Clarence & Calvin, the following year. After the 1962 release of “I Don’t Know (School Girl),” the pair joined Duke Records, renaming themselves the C & C Boys and releasing four singles for the label, though none were commercially successful. In 1965 the duo recorded “Step by Step” at Rick Hall‘s FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals; it was released on the Atlantic Records‘ subsidiary Atco label, but it also failed to chart.