Eric Clapton (b.1945,) fully Eric Patrick Clapton, originally Eric Patrick Clapp, is an English blues and rock guitarist, singer, and composer. A prominent guitarist in the late 1960s and early ’70s, he later became a well-known singer-songwriter. He is known mainly for the song ‘Layla’ (1972) and his group Cream (1966–68.)
Born in Ripley, Surrey, Clapton began his recording career with the rhythm-and-blues group Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. He formed the enormously influential power trio, Cream, with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. He also joined the short-lived groups Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominoes.
Clapton briefly retired, overcame a heroin addiction, and returned with the laid-back 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974,) which established his subsequent middle-of-the-road solo career. In 1994, Clapton returned to his blues origins, collaborating with B. B. King on Riding with the King (2000) and paying tribute to Blues guitarist-singer Robert Johnson on Me and Mr. Johnson (2004.)
Clapton’s biographies include Harry Shapiro’s Eric Clapton: Lost in the Blues (1992,) Michael Schumacher’s Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton (2003,) and Philip Norman’s Slowhand: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton (2018.) Clapton wrote Clapton: The Autobiography (2007.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Eric Clapton
It’s been very important throughout my career that I’ve met all the guys I’ve copied, because at each stage they’ve said, “Don’t play like me, play like you.”
—Eric Clapton
Topics: Innovation, Originality
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