Carter made people believe in his songs

Clarence Carter said he wasn't sure if he wanted to record his biggest hit.The song, "Patches" was co-written and originally recorded by The Chairmen of the Board's General Johnson. It was released on the group's debut record (the same album that yielded the band's signature song, "Give Me Just a Little More Time"), but didn't chart for them.But Carter thought the song, which told the story of a Black Alabama's sharecropper's son, forced to work to save the farm and attend school, was degrading.His producer, Rick Hall, thought otherwise. In the 2011 documentary "Muscle Shoals" — about the famous Alabama studio that was a major force in soul music — Hall said that he related to the song and believed it would be a big hit for Carter.It was.Not only was Carter's version a smash on both sides of the Atlantic and in Australia, but it won the 1971 Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Song.Carter's stunningly emotional vocal was so raw, so convincing, that many listeners believed the song — which was written in first person — was about the singer's upbringing.Google wasn't around in the early''70s, so many listeners were not only unaware that Carter hadn't written the song, but that he was blind.Still, Carter said he received a number of letters from fans, praising him for overcoming tragedy and making something of himself.That's how heartfelt and believable his vocal performance was.People believed that Clarence Carter was Patches.Of course, Carter had overcome adversity in his life. Despite not being able to see, he taught himself the guitar (he read music with Braille) and attended Alabama State University. It was there that he met another blind student, Calvin Scott.The two formed an R&B duo. And though the group — later renamed the C&C Boys — never made a major impact on the charts, they produced some really good songs, such as the toe-tapping "I Don't Know." The group split after Scott was injured in a 1966 car accident (later, Scott sued Carter for help with his medical bills), and Carter went solo.Carter's great, emotive baritone helped him score a number of soul hits in the late 1960s, such as the achingly wonderful "Slip Away," and the upbeat and fun "Looking for a Fox."As his career went on, the singer's music often leaned into frank, if not lewd, themes. The minor 1980s hit "Strokin" was an example of this. Through it all, Carter's strong voice — whether singing or in a spoken interlude — was always memorable. He continued to perform well into his 80s. Carter died last week at 90.In addition to his Grammy, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.It's easy to see why.He always had the ability to get a listener's attention, and his voice was earnest enough to make you believe what he was singing about.Even if he didn't write the song. Zach Baker is sports editor and music columnist for The Courier.