Miami music legend Clarence Reid, known as Blowfly, dies

Miami songwriter and performer Clarence Reid, known as the “Original Dirty Rapper” Blowfly, has died.

Reid died Sunday in his hospice room, according to a post on his Facebook page by his friend and drummer Tom Bowker.

“Clarence Reid, the genius known both by his given name and as Blowfly, the Master of Class, passed peacefully today, January 17th, in his hospice room,” the post read.

“His sister Virginia and I thank you for all the love you have shown this week. We also thank you for supporting Clarence’s 50+year music career — especially these last few years. We love you and will keep you informed on services and tribute performances in Clarence’s honor.”

Reid had terminal liver cancer and had entered hospice care on Tuesday after suffering multiple organ failure, according to his Facebook page.

Reid, who was born in Georgia and moved to South Florida as a teenager, wrote songs for Betty Wright, Gwen McCrae and K.C. and the Sunshine Band in the 1960s.

But he was better known for his crude alter ego Blowfly, the masked rapper who would alter the lyrics of popular songs and make them sexually explicit.

Blowfly’s early songs are considered some of hip-hop’s first records, and his music was influential to other rappers like 2 Live Crew.

“Without Blowfly, there would be no Luther Campbell,” Campbell told the Miami Herald in 2004.

This story was originally published January 17, 2016 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Miami music legend Clarence Reid, known as Blowfly, dies."