Eric Clapton Biography

(One of the Greatest Guitarists of All Time)

Birthday: March 30, 1945 (Aries)

Born In: Ripley, England

Eric Clapton is a British singer and songwriter besides being a guitarist. He is well-known for songs like Sunshine of Your Love and Before You Accuse Me. In his early life, he performed with The Roosters. His close connection with The Yardbirds resulted in a successful score titled For Your Love. During his performance with The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton was nicknamed Slowhand. He established himself as a skilled guitarist during his time with the Bluesbreakers. His second nickname God was given during his performance with this band. His association with the band Cream helped him prove his expertise as a multitalented person who could sing, create songs, and play the guitar. The combined effort of Eric and this band includes hit songs like Sunshine of Your Love, White Room, and Crossroads. The score Sunshine of Your Love is the perfect example of his special guitar sound, popularly known as the woman tone. Although he has achieved a lot in his career, this renowned personality suffered in his personal life due to his drug addiction and alcoholism. After his recovery, he went on to set up the Crossroads Centre in the West Indies. It works for the rehabilitation of substance abusers. Eric Clapton is also the founder of a band named Blind Faith.

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Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In March

Also Known As: Eric Patrick Clapton

Age: 79 Years, 79 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Melia McEnery (m. 1979–1989), Pattie Boyd (m. 1979–1988)

father: Edward Walter Fryer

mother: Patricia Molly Clapton

children: Ella May, Julie Rose, Ruth Kelly, Sophie Belle

Born Country: England

Guitarists Blues Musicians

Height: 5'10" (178 cm), 5'10" Males

Notable Alumni: Kingston University

More Facts

education: Kingston University

  • 1

    What are some of Eric Clapton's most famous songs?

    Some of Eric Clapton's most famous songs include "Tears in Heaven," "Layla," "Wonderful Tonight," "Cocaine," and "Crossroads."

  • 2

    What is the story behind Eric Clapton's song "Tears in Heaven?"

    Eric Clapton wrote "Tears in Heaven" in memory of his four-year-old son, Conor, who tragically passed away in 1991. The song reflects Clapton's grief and longing for his son.

  • 3

    How did Eric Clapton get the nickname "Slowhand?"

    Eric Clapton earned the nickname "Slowhand" during his time with The Yardbirds. It was given to him by fans who noticed that he often took his time changing guitar strings on stage, resulting in slow applause as the new strings were put on.

  • 4

    What is the significance of Eric Clapton's unplugged performance?

    Eric Clapton's performance on the MTV Unplugged series in 1992 revitalized his career and introduced him to a new generation of fans. The album from that performance went on to win several Grammy Awards.

  • 5

    How did Eric Clapton influence the development of blues rock music?

    Eric Clapton played a significant role in popularizing blues rock music by blending traditional blues elements with rock and roll. His influential guitar playing style and heartfelt vocals helped shape the genre for years to come.

Childhood & Early Life

Born in Surrey, England, Eric Patrick Clapton is the son of Patricia Molly Clapton and Edward Walter Fryer, a Canadian soldier who served during World War II. His mother was a 16-year-old, unmarried girl at the time of his birth.

After his birth, when his father returned to his wife in Canada, Eric was raised by Patricia’s parents. Though they never adopted him legally, they acted as his legal guardian till 1963.

He received his early education from Hollyfield School in Surbiton. Later, he attended the Kingston College of Art. Unfortunately, the school authority dismissed him for his negligence towards art. From this time onwards, he developed an interest in blues.

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Career

In the early period of 1963, he joined a band called The Roosters. In August 1963, when the band broke up, he started performing as part of Casey Jones & The Engineers.

His association with The Yardbirds started in October 1963. In the next year, he performed for this band at the Royal Albert Hall, in London. Later, he recorded his single Good Morning Little Schoolgirl with this band.

The band received huge success after the release of a single titled For Your Love. Though he played the guitar during the performance of this song, Eric Clapton was against using commercial sound in this score.

After leaving The Yardbirds in 1965, he joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. His performance with this band brought him recognition as a guitarist. At that time, he visited Greece for a short period with a band called The Glands.

After his return, he recorded Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton, an album with the Bluesbreakers. In 1966, he also performed as part of the Powerhouse, a British blues studio supergroup.

After leaving the Bluesbreakers in July 1966, he joined Ginger Baker’s newly formed band Cream. This band provided him the opportunity to prove his potential as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

From 1968 to 1969, he played a vital role in the recording of the band’s successful scores like Sunshine of Your Love, White Room, and Crossroads. Along with George Harrison, he co-wrote Badge, a studio single for Cream’s last album Goodbye.

Later, he formed Blind Faith, a British blues rock band that released an album of the same name in 1969. After the break-up of this band, he went on a musical tour with Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.

In 1969, he performed at a fundraiser program for UNICEF in London. Inspired by Delaney Bramlett, he started singing and composing songs. In association with Bramlett, he recorded songs for the album, Music From Free Creek.

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In 1970, he recorded his first solo album Eric Clapton which got wide acclaim. In this year, he formed Derek and the Dominos. With this band, he released Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.

In 1974, his album 461 Ocean Boulevard appeared. It contained popular singles like I Shot the Sheriff. The success of this album started his flourishing solo career.

In the next year, he released There’s One in Every Crowd, his new album. After releasing several of his albums, he performed for a solo album titled The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking.

Eric Clapton continued releasing studio albums, such as Money and Cigarettes, Me and Mr. Johnson, and Old Sock. In 2018, he released his 21st solo studio album Happy Xmas. In August 2021, he released the song “This Has Gotta Stop” which reflected on the adversities that COVID lockdown brought upon people. In 2023, after the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, he put out the song “Voice of a Child” which showed images of the destruction of Gaza.

Major Works

He released his album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs in November 1970. Due to the album’s huge popularity, it achieved 16th position on Billboard’s Pop Album chart.

Awards & Achievements

Along with Michael Kamen, his remarkable composition for the 1985 BBC television thriller serial Edge of Darkness earned him a British Academy Television Award.

His album Journeyman appeared in 1989. The album presents mind-blowing blues songs like Before You Accuse Me. Eric Clapton received the 1990 Best Male Rock Vocal Performance Grammy Award for the album’s song Bad Love. He has 16 other Grammy Awards under his belt.

Personal Life & Legacy

Eric Clapton married Pattie Boyd in 1979. During their married life, he developed a romantic relationship with Yvonne Kelly with whom he had a daughter, Ruth. He did not disclose the birth of Ruth till 1991.

Eric and Boyd divorced in 1988, due to his alcoholism and his relationship with Italian model Lory Del Santo. With Santo, he had a son named Conor. He was later involved in a number of relationships.

In 2001, his daughter Julie Rose was born. Julie’s mother is Melia McEnery whom he married at a church in Surrey in 2002. They have two other daughters, Ella Mae and Sophie.

Facts About Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is a skilled artist beyond music, as he has also created impressive abstract paintings that have been exhibited in galleries.

Clapton once owned a Ferrari collection that included some rare and iconic models, showcasing his passion for cars as well.

Despite his rock star image, Clapton is known for his love of gardening and has even been spotted tending to his plants in his free time.

Clapton's guitar skills are so legendary that he has been nicknamed "Slowhand," a reference to both his smooth playing style and his deliberate approach to music.

In addition to his successful solo career, Clapton has also been a member of several influential bands, including Cream and Derek and the Dominos, leaving a lasting impact on the music industry.

Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
2008 Outstanding Special Class - Not-Exclusively-Made-for-Television Variety, Music, Comedy Event Programs Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival, Chicago (2007)
BAFTA Awards
1986 Best Original Television Music Edge of Darkness (1985)
Grammy Awards
2008 Best Contemporary Blues Album Winner
2006 Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Winner
2002 Best Pop Instrumental Performance Winner
2001 Best Traditional Blues Album Winner
2000 Best Rock Instrumental Performance Winner
1999 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Winner
1997 Song of the Year Winner
1997 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Winner
1997 Record of the Year Winner
1997 Best Rock Instrumental Performance Winner
1995 Best Traditional Blues Album Winner
1993 Record of the Year Rush (1991)
1993 Best Rock Song Winner
1993 Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male Winner
1993 Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Winner
1993 Album of the Year Winner
1993 Song of the Year Rush (1991)
1993 Song of the Year Winner
1991 Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male Winner
1989 Best Historical Album Winner
1989 Best Album Notes Winner
1973 Album of the Year Winner
MTV Video Music Awards
1992 Best Male Video Eric Clapton (1992)

See the events in life of Eric Clapton in Chronological Order

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