Sad news to report from the world of R&B: infamous profanity-spewing singer Blowfly (a.k.a. Clarence Reid) is suffering from terminal liver cancer, and was taken into hospice care yesterday (January 12).
A note on Blowfly's official Facebook page has his drummer-manager Tom Bowker confirming that Reid is suffering from terminal liver cancer and multiple organ failure. He's currently in a care facility in Miami, and Bowker is encouraging fans to send letters to the Florida Medical Center. You can find out more info over here.
Bowker also noted that, ahead of being put under hospice care, Blowfly completed a new album. Titled 77 Rusty Trombones, it's due to be released sometime in February.
"It is easily his best album since the early '80s, and a fitting epitaph for one of the great performers of all time," Bowker said of the set.
Reid's career in R&B has been a long one, with him having written songs for the likes of KC & the Sunshine Band, Sam & Dave, and more. He released records under his own name as far back as the late 1960's, ahead of creating his filthy Blowfly persona.
The glittery mask-and-cape wearing alter ego issued a disc of adult-themed R&B parodies called The Weird World of Blowfly in 1971. He'd later gain notoriety with his "Rapp Dirty," which had also been recorded under the name "Blowfly's Rap" for 1980's Blowfly's Party.
Consider it absurdly NSFW and offensive, but you can stream Blowfly's "ding-a-ling" swingin' signature single down below.
Reid has maintained an off-and-on tour schedule for decades, and had at one point been signed to Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles imprint.
A note on Blowfly's official Facebook page has his drummer-manager Tom Bowker confirming that Reid is suffering from terminal liver cancer and multiple organ failure. He's currently in a care facility in Miami, and Bowker is encouraging fans to send letters to the Florida Medical Center. You can find out more info over here.
Bowker also noted that, ahead of being put under hospice care, Blowfly completed a new album. Titled 77 Rusty Trombones, it's due to be released sometime in February.
"It is easily his best album since the early '80s, and a fitting epitaph for one of the great performers of all time," Bowker said of the set.
Reid's career in R&B has been a long one, with him having written songs for the likes of KC & the Sunshine Band, Sam & Dave, and more. He released records under his own name as far back as the late 1960's, ahead of creating his filthy Blowfly persona.
The glittery mask-and-cape wearing alter ego issued a disc of adult-themed R&B parodies called The Weird World of Blowfly in 1971. He'd later gain notoriety with his "Rapp Dirty," which had also been recorded under the name "Blowfly's Rap" for 1980's Blowfly's Party.
Consider it absurdly NSFW and offensive, but you can stream Blowfly's "ding-a-ling" swingin' signature single down below.
Reid has maintained an off-and-on tour schedule for decades, and had at one point been signed to Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles imprint.