Lorne wrote:

Robert Parker, the singer-songwriter who scored a national hit during the heyday of New Orleans rhythm and blues with his 1966 song “Barefootin,’” died Sunday. He was 89.
His granddaughter, Keshita Williams, said Parker had stopped performing in recent years and retired to Tangipahoa Parish, where he was living at the time of his death.
https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/robert-parker-who-scored-a-1960s-hit-with-barefootin-dies/289-44c9d1dc-59af-4a53-836d-894b0986c50c

The only version of this song I've heard is by Pete Townshend on his Deep End Live album. I'd never thought about its origin so thanks for that. The song was a real stretch for Pete as he hadn't really done any R & B covers since the early days of The Who. Rounded out by a horn section and female back-up singers, this is probably the most soulful he ever sounded. If it was a stretch for him it must have been even greater for Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, who played guitar on the recording.