Clarence Reid photographed in 1970.
Clarence Reid, better known by his raunchy funk alter ego Blowfly, has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and multiple organ failure.
The 76-year-old Reid broke the sad news Tuesday (Jan. 13) via his official Facebook page in a note penned by his drummer Tom Bowker.
Reid will release one final album under the Blowfly moniker, titled 77 Rusty Trombones, due in Feb. 2016.
The Miami-based Blowfly gained notoriety in the 1970s with playful, X-rated tracks like “Rap Dirty,” “Suck My Dick,” and “Sesame Street" -- which called out profane words for each letter of the alphabet. He also penned hits for artists like KC & the Sunshine Band, Betty Wright, and Gwen MacRae under his own name. He continued to consistently release Blowfly albums through the decades, with his last LP coming in 2012.
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Reid outlined a couple last wishes in yesterday’s Facebook message. For one, he is interested in compiling a full list of every sample done from a song he wrote or performed. And for fans who would like to send their last respects, Reid provided the mailing address of the Florida hospice he was admitted to yesterday. That address is listed within the Facebook message below.
We leave you with one of Blowfly’s essentials, “Rap Dirty.”
Dear Blowfly and Clarence Reid fans. It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that Clarence has Terminal Liver...
Posted by Blowfly on Tuesday, January 12, 2016