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Eric Clapton

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Born:
March 30, 1945, he's 67 and English.
Names:
Birthname: Eric Patrick Clapton. Alternative names: Slowhand.
Snapshot:
An Artist with 194 releases, a member of 14 groups, and credited 44 times on others' music. 39 collaborations and 1 musical relative.

Biography

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Eric Clapton is widely considered one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time. He played with The Yardbirds, a seminal 60s blues-rock band that would go on to become Led Zeppelin, before recording an album that is known as one of the greatest blues-rock albums ever made, with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. He went on to form three supergroups in quick succession -- Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos -- before embarking on a hugely successful solo career.

Clapton joined The Yardbirds in 1963 and quickly developed a big reputation for his guitar ability and style. In 1965 he joined Mayall's band, and their album of the following year Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton is widely hailed as a classic of its style. A famous photograph of a piece of London graffiti summed up the reaction of fans: it read "Clapton Is God". In 1966 he formed Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. For the two-and-a-bit years that they existed, Cream were a massive worldwide success, selling out tours wherever they went and selling millions of albums. Clapton developed as a songwriter for classic records such as Disraeli Gears (1967) and Wheels of Fire (1968), both of which were inspirational to Led Zeppelin and the other hard rock and metal acts that followed.

After Cream broke up in 1968, Clapton's next project was Blind Faith, formed with Baker, Steve Winwood and Rick Grech. They toured to massive crowds and released one self-titled album, before splitting. Clapton released an eponymous solo album and spent 1970 guesting on albums by others, including All Things Must Pass by close friend George Harrison. He then formed Derek and the Dominos, and released Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. It was met with a mixed reception but has since been reappraised as a classic. It features the lead single "Layla", which includes one of the most famous guitar riffs ever written.

During this period Clapton declined into depression, worsened by a serious heroin habit, the deaths of close friend Jimi Hendrix and band-mate Duane Allman, and the poor initial response to the Layla album. Derek and the Dominos gave up halfway through recording a second album, and Clapton retreated from public view. He only came out to perform at Harrison's 1971 Concert for Bangladesh (during which he passed out on-stage), before The Who's Pete Townshend organised a comeback gig for him, later released as the Rainbow Concert (1973). His first album after kicking the heroin habit, 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974), was a big hit with critics and the public, and included a hit cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff". Subsequent albums were low-key, but Slowhand (1977) featured two big singles: "Wonderful Tonight" and "Cocaine".

In 1992, there was a re-emergence in Clapton's commercial fortunes, brought about by deep personal tragedy. His four year old son Conor died after falling out of a high-rise window in New York. The sorrowful song Clapton wrote about it, "Tears in Heaven", was a worldwide smash, and won three Grammy Awards. It was released on the Rush soundtrack and also included on the Unplugged live album, which was widely acclaimed.

Music

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Genres

Blues,
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Discography

253 releases – 194 under his own name, 19 in other groups and 44 credits on others' music Edit
1
Collaborations, Groups and Family
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Eric Clapton

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In the News

( 2 stories between 10th December 2010 and 12th December 2010 )

Eric Clapton: Recharged

Dec, 12 2010

Eric Clapton has a lot going on these days. He has a new album, an upcoming tour, and is an integral part of an auction benefiting the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. Clapton plans to auction off several of his guitars—including one he used for Cream’s 2005 reunion shows—as well as amps, speakers and other equipment. A pair of Marshall speaker cabinets Slowhand used during the 1970s while performing with Derek And The Dominos is expected to fetch more than $7500. Clapton founded the Centre in 1998 to help treat drug and alcohol addiction. The sale will take place in New York on February 9, 2011 and will also feature guitars donated by Jeff Beck, J.J. Cale and Joe Bonamassa. Clapton released his 19th studio album, the eponymous Clapton, this past September. Clapton features musical collaborations with Cale, Jim Keltner, Willie Weeks, Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint, and Derek Trucks, among others. Rooted in the blues, the album spans century-old traditional brass bands to obscure country blues and new originals. To support the release, Clapton has just announced dates for an American West Coast tour in spring, 2011.

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Eric Clapton: Recharged

Dec, 10 2010

Eric Clapton has a lot going on these days. He has a new album, an upcoming tour, and is an integral part of an auction benefiting the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. Clapton plans to auction off several of his guitars—including one he used for Cream’s 2005 reunion shows—as well as amps, speakers and other equipment. A pair of Marshall speaker cabinets Slowhand used during the 1970s while performing with Derek And The Dominos is expected to fetch more than $7500. Clapton founded the Centre in 1998 to help treat drug and alcohol addiction. The sale will take place in New York on February 9, 2011 and will also feature guitars donated by Jeff Beck, J.J. Cale and Joe Bonamassa. Clapton released his 19th studio album, the eponymous Clapton, this past September. Clapton features musical collaborations with Cale, Jim Keltner, Willie Weeks, Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint, and Derek Trucks, among others. Rooted in the blues, the album spans century-old traditional brass bands to obscure country blues and new originals. To support the release, Clapton has just announced dates for an American West Coast tour in spring, 2011.

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Trivia

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  • Received his first guitar as a 13th birthday present, along with a marimba.
  • Passed out on stage at George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh.
  • Was Pattie Boyd's second husband after George Harrison.
  • Was raised by his grandmother and her second husband, believing they were his parents and that his mother was his older sister.
  • 2006 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2001 Grammy Best Pop Instrumental Performance for “Reptile”
  • 2000 Grammy Best Traditional Blues Album, “Riding With The King”
  • 2000 Grammy Best Rock Instrumental Performance, “The Calling”
  • 1998 Grammy Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, “My Father’s Eyes”
  • 1996 Grammy Best Rock Instrumental Performance, “SRV Shuffle”
  • 1996 Grammy Record of the Year, “Change the World”
  • 1996 Grammy Best Male Pop Vocal, “Change the World”
  • 1994 Grammy Best Traditional Blues Album, “From the Cradle”
  • 1992 Grammy Record of the Year, “Tears in Heaven”
  • 1992 Grammy Album of the Year, “Unplugged”
  • 1992 Grammy Song of the Year, “Tears in Heaven”
  • 1992 Grammy Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, "Unplugged"
  • 1992 Grammy Best Male Pop Vocal, “Tears in Heaven”
  • 1992 Grammy Best Rock Song, "Layla"
  • 1991 Grammy Best Male Rock Vocal, "Bad Love"
  • 1987 Grammy Best Performance Music Video, “The Prince's Trust All Star Rock Concert”
  • 1972 Grammy Album of the Year, "The Concert For Bangladesh"

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