Clarence Henry Reid aka Blow Fly (February 14, 1939 – January 17, 2016) Before he became Blow Fly he was simply Clarence Henry Reid born in Vienna Georgia on Valentines Day, 1939. During the 1960s and 1970s Reid wrote for and produced artists including Betty Wright, Sam & Dave, Bobby Byrd and KC and the Sunshine Band. During this period he was also a recording artist, cutting many of his own songs, including semi-hit “Nobody But You Babe”.
Reid would write sexually explicit lyrics to popular songs for his friends and to perform at parties (much like a dirty Weird Al). In 1971 he was persuaded – for better or worse – to record an LP of these beauties. Titled “The Weird World of Blow Fly”. He conceived a character of a low rent superhero to protect his identity and lucrative song writing career.
Having heard a couple of Blow Fly LPs let me tell you they are shit. Such titles as “If Eating You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want To Be Right”, “The First Time Ever You Sucked My Dick”, and “Ain’t No Head Like My Woman’s Head” tells you right away what your in for.
Reid would tour as Blow Fly sporadically for years. A 2010 documentary by Jonathan Furmanski would increase his popularity a bit but by that time he was in his 70’s and in poor health. Clarence Henry Reid passed away on Jan 17 from liver cancer.
Blow Fly Disco – LP Cover
The Weird World of Blowfly – LP
Self Titled LP
2001: A Sex Odyssey
Blow Fly Does XXX-Mas
Clarence Reid – Pre-Blowfly
Dancin’ With Nobody But You Babe – Clarence Reid
The Weird World of Blow Fly – Documentary 2010
