Eric Clapton
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Eric Clapton is a Grammy Award winning guitarist, singer and composer. He garnered an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His single "Tears in Heaven" made him a superstar not only in the United States but Worldwide.
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About
Eric Clapton was born on March 30, 1945 at Ripley, Surrey, England. Eric is the illegitimate son of Patricia Molly Clapton and Edward Walter Fryer, a Canadian soldier stationed in England during World War II. Before Eric was born, his father returned to his wife in Canada. He grew up believing that his grandmother and her second husband were his parents and his mother was his older sister.
Her mother, Patricia married Frank McDonald and eventually moved to Canada and Germany with his husband. He discovers the truth that the one who is currently taking care of him was not his parents, but instead they are his grandparents. This is the beginning of his new life.
Eric was raised in a musical household. His grandmother plays piano and his mother loves the sounds of the bands. Eric's father played piano in several bands.
He attended High School in Hollyfied Scool at Surbiton. He was a working student; Eric's first job was a postman. When Eric was 17 years old, he joined his first band, The Roosters. He stayed with the band until August 1963. He spent one month in the pop-oriented Casey Jones and The Engineers. Before turning to music as a full-time career, he supported himself as a laborer at building sites, working alongside his grandfather, a master bricklayer and plasterer.
In October 1963, He was recruited by Keith Relf and Paul Samwell-Smith to become a member of their band, The Yardbirds. He was called Slowhand. He recorded several albums with them. When The Yardbirds began moving towards a more commercial sound with For Your Love he quit the gropu because his path in music was the blues.
In April 1965, he was invited by John Mayalls to join his band called John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. He earned his second nickname, God. He also recorded albums with the said band.
He left the group in July 1966 and decided to teamed up with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker to established a new group called Cream. They had released three albums. Eric was recognized as rock's premier guitarist and became an instant superstar. Although Cream was together for only two years, they are considered one of the most influential rock groups of the modern era. Due to member's egos and constant arguing, they decided to be disbanded on November 1968.
Eric formed another group with Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Rich Grech called Blind Faith. After releasing one album, Eric went on tour with Delaney and Bonnie & Friends and decided to quit with Blind Faith. They released live album in 1970. He also released his self-titled album in that same year.
In 1970, Eric formed another group called Derek and The Dominos with Gordon, Carl Radle and Bobby Whitloclock of Delaney and Bonnie's Band. They had released one album before deciding to drift apart.
Due to his failures, Eric was addicted to heroine for three years. In 1973, he kicked his drug addiction and re-launced his solo career with a concert at London's Rainbow Theatre. This is the start of a new chapter of his life. He reappeared with a new style.
His solo career became bloom in 1992 when he released his album,Unplugged which became a big hit with his single Tears In Heaven which was a blockbuster hit not only in U.S. but also worldwide. The album and the single received many awards from Grammy. After that huge hits, he released more follow-up albums.
In 2005, members of the band Cream reunite with their four very special reunion shows at London's Royal Albert Hall. Eric has also contributed to numerous artist's albums over the decades.
Awards and Certification
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | BAFTA Awards | Best Original Television Music for Edge of Darkness |
| 1990 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for Bad Love |
| 1992 | Grammy Awards | Best Rock Song for Layla |
| 1993 | Grammy Awards | Song of The Year for Tears In Heaven |
| 1993 | Grammy Awards | Record of the Year for Tears In Heaven |
| 1993 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Tears In Heaven |
| 1993 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for Unplugged |
| 1993 | Grammy Awards | Album of The Year for Unplugged |
| 1994 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Album for From The Cradle |
| 1996 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Change The World |
| 1996 | Grammy Awards | Record of The Year for Change The World |
| 1998 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for My Father's Eyes |
| 2001 | Grammy Awards | Best Pop Instrumental Performance for Reptile |
Chart Toppers
News
Tours & Concerts
New Tour Dates for 2008
Feb 25, 2008 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Feb 26, 2008 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Feb 28, 2008 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Announcements
No announcements as of the moment.
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Wonderful Tonight | Alex Records |
| 1992 | Tears In Heaven | Warner Bros. |
| 1994 | Motherless Child | Warner Bros. |
| 1996 | Changes In The World | Reprise |
| 1998 | My Father's Eyes | Reprise |
| 2001 | I Ain't Gonna Stand For It | Wea |
Compilations & Live Releases
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 Clapton Chronicles - The Best Of
October 12, 1999 |
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 Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Eric Clapton
September 2003 |
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 Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums
June 21, 2005 |
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Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
Reviews
Eric Clapton plays with his heart as well as his fingers. What makes Eric Clapton so unique as a musician is that whatever your taste is in music, he's made an entire album in that genre. Wheter it be in Country-rock, Blues, Soul, Pop, Acoustic, or Jazz, He's done it. He's work is so consistently good that it's easy to overlook how good he is. One of his album, Reptile opens and closes with two instrumentals. -- Leni 11 February 2007
External Links
Categories: Artist | Rock
