Eric Patrick Clapton
b. March 30, 1945
English guitarist, singer, & songwriter
Genres considered - Blues, Rock
One of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music
No. 2 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time
No. 4 on Gibson's Top 50 Guitarists of All Time
No. 5 on Time magazine's The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players (2009)
From 1963 to 1965, Eric Clapton was a member of the Yardbirds.
In 1966, Eric formed Cream with Ginger Baker (drums) & Jake Bruce (bass, vocals). The band recorded four albums. The members disbanded in 1968.
Following Cream, Eric formed Blind Faith with Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech. The band recorded one album and embarked on one tour but broke up shortly thereafter.
In 1970, Eric formed Derek and the Dominos with Bobby Whitlock, Carl Raddle, and Jim Gordon. They only recorded one album -
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs - which produced Clapton's now signature song, "Layla."
Early notables -
"I Shot the Sheriff" Bob Marley cover (1974)
Country driven Slowhand album (1977) ... "Wonderful Tonight" highlight
Pop rock influence in August album (1986)
"Tears in Heaven" in Unplugged live album (1992 - song tribute to Eric's son's death)
"My Father's Eyes" - released in 1998 & a Grammy winner
Meanwhile - latest album released in 2024
Honors -
18 Grammy Awards
Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music
Silver Clef Award
BAFTA Award
Awarded a CBE for services to music (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2004)
4 Ivor Novello Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award
3-time Inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (solo, the Yardbirds, & Cream)
Royal Albert Hall Walk of Fame (2018)*
*Point of intrigue - Other inductees include Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, the Suffragettes, and Albert Einstein..."key players" in the building's history
As a solo artist, Eric Clapton has sold 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling musicians of all time.
In 1998, Eric founded the Crossroads Center on Antigua for recovering substance addicts.
Side note -
Eric Clapton is a phenomenal guitarist and singer with meaningful lyrics. Yet he had demons in the form of severe alcohol and drug addiction that instead of devastating him, lifted him into a better place upon getting sober and reminiscing what could have been if not clean.
Back to music -
Eric Clapton's greatest guitar influences include Muddy Waters, Freddie King, B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Hubert Sumlin.
Eric's guitar brand preferences include Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster. In the past, he used Gretsch and Fender Telecaster.
Pop culture notes -
"Wonderful Tonight" was played in the Friends episode, "The One with the Proposal, Part 2" and "River of Tears" in the Friends episode, "Rachel Has a Baby."
Other features include Back to the Future, Lethal Weapon 2, Goodfellas, and School of Rock, to name a few.
To sum up,
He had the lowest of low points, all the best in honorable points, and can still rock on. Play it, Eric Clapton.
No comments:
Post a Comment