Soul Music

Clarence Carter -- the legendary blind soul singer behind countless R&B classics -- has died at 90.

Rodney Hall, president of FAME Studios in Alabama, confirmed the news to Rolling Stone ... after Hall spoke with the family of singer Candi Staton, Carter's ex-wife, who said the icon passed away Thursday.

Carter had recently been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and was also battling pneumonia and sepsis.