Clarence Reid

Clarence Reid, a multifaceted singer, songwriter, and producer, cultivated several distinct musical identities in the manner of David Bowie and George Clinton of P-Funk. One of these was an earnest Southern soul singer born February 14, 1945, in Cochran, Georgia, who cut sides for Alston, the imprint run by TK Records president Henry Stone. Among his Billboard-charting singles were “Nobody But You Babe,” which reached number seven R&B in summer 1969 and appeared on an Atlantic LP, plus “Good Old Days” in early 1972 and “Funky Party” in summer 1974. He supplied Betty Wright with the hits “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do,” the million-selling “Clean Up Woman,” “Baby Sitter,” and “Let Me Be Your Lovemaker.” Reid also co-wrote and co-produced Gwen McCrae’s “Rockin’ Chair,” a 1975 release that climbed into the pop Top Ten.

Under the pseudonym Blowfly he pursued an alternate career delivering X-rated material. Reid further assisted Richard Finch in securing employment at TK Records and acquainted Harry Wayne “K.C.” Casey with junkanoo, the festive party music that later formed the signature sound of Casey and Finch’s 1970s supergroup KC and the Sunshine Band. Releases connected to Clarence Reid include When a Man Cries: The Deep Soul of Scepter/Wand along with numerous Blowfly recordings.