Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Clapton at the Hard Rock Calling concert on June 28, 2008-Hyde Park,
London
Background information
Birth name
Eric Patrick Clapton
Also known
as
Slowhand
Born
30 March 1945 (1945-03-30)
Ripley, Surrey, England
Genre(s)
Rock, blues, blues-rock, psychedelic rock,
hard rock
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s) Guitar, vocals
Years active
1963 - present
Label(s)
Warner Bros., Reprise, Polydor, RSO,
Atco, Apple, Deram[1]
Associated
acts
The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the
Bluesbreakers, Powerhouse, Cream,
George Harrison, The Dirty Mac, Blind
Faith, Sheryl Crow, Freddie King, J.J.
Cale, The Plastic Ono Band, Delaney,
Bonnie & Friends, Derek and the
Dominos, T.D.F.
Website
Official website
Notable instrument(s)
See: Guitars section
Blackie
Brownie
Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born 30 March
1945) is an English blues-rock guitarist, sing-
er, songwriter and composer. Clapton has
been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame as a member of the Yardbirds, of
Cream, and as a solo performer, being the
only person to be inducted three times. Often
viewed by critics and fans alike as one of the
greatest guitarists of all time,[2] Clapton was
ranked fourth in Rolling Stone magazine’s list
of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"[3]
and #53 on their list of the Immortals: 100
Greatest Artists of All Time.[4]
Although Clapton has varied his musical
style throughout his career, it has always re-
mained grounded in the blues. Yet, in spite of
this focus, he is credited as an innovator in a
wide variety of genres. These include blues-
rock (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
and the Yardbirds) and psychedelic rock
(with Cream). Additionally, Clapton’s chart
success was not limited to the blues, with
chart-toppers in Delta Blues (Me and Mr.
Johnson), pop ("Change the World") and reg-
gae (Bob Marley’s "I Shot the Sheriff"). One
of his most successful recordings was the hit
love song "Layla," which he played with the
band Derek and the Dominos, and Robert
Johnson’s "Crossroads", which h