Eric Clapton is a English musician, known as as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Due to his work with the Yardbirds, Cream, and as a solo artist, Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Over his career, he has won 18 Grammy Awards, and was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music.
As a child in the UK, Clapton was influenced by the blues and learned guitar chords playing along with the records in his grandparents' home, recording his renditions, and playing them back until he was happy with his playing. Soon after, he began busking and performing around London at age sixteen, joining his first blues band in 1963, the Roosters. In October of that same year, Clapton joined the Yardbirds, and began to forge the distinctive style he became known for, rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about guitarists in the British music scene. The band attracted a large cult following after taking over a residency at the Crawdaddy Club for Rolling Stones. In 1965, Clapton and the Yardbirds had their first hit, "For Your Love," which pushed Clapton to leave the band due to other members wanting to take a more pop-oriented direction. Clapton's replacement was Jeff Beck, who became another famous guitarist also sharing space with Clapton in the top five on Rolling Stone's 100 Top Guitarists list.
After moving into another band, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Clapton and his Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar were well on their way to a well-earned reputation as one the best blues guitarist on the club circuit. In 1966, Clapton left the Bluesbreakers was invited to join the band Cream, a supergroup made up of drummer Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce on bass. With Cream, Clapton made his American debut in New York in May of 1967, and soon after, the band had sold millions of records with tours booked throughout the US and Europe. It could be said that Cream's musical virtuosity and lengthy jazz-style improvisation sessions were the beginning of the modern idea of a jam band. During these years, Clapton formed friendships around the industry with other artists including George Harrison, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and Billy Preston.
After Cream's farewell record, Clapton wanted to show that he didn't need a starring role in a band and created Derek and the Dominoes, responsible for "Layla," one of Clapton's biggest popular hits. Heavily blues-influenced, the Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs album features the twin lead guitars of Clapton and Duane Allman, and was inspired by Clapton's unrequited affections to George Harrison's then-wife, Pattie Boyd, whom he married in 1979. Since then he has achieved solo success with songs such as "Tears in Heaven," "Wonderful Tonight," and "My Father's Eyes" which he has said were therapy for several tragedies in his life.
Clapton cites Freddie King, B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Hubert Sumlin as guitar playing influences and has influenced blues musician Robert Johnson to be his single most important influence. He has a net worth of $250 million, and purchased this house in 2003 for $1.25 million. His second and current wife, Melia McEnery, is from the region.
As a child in the UK, Clapton was influenced by the blues and learned guitar chords playing along with the records in his grandparents' home, recording his renditions, and playing them back until he was happy with his playing. Soon after, he began busking and performing around London at age sixteen, joining his first blues band in 1963, the Roosters. In October of that same year, Clapton joined the Yardbirds, and began to forge the distinctive style he became known for, rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about guitarists in the British music scene. The band attracted a large cult following after taking over a residency at the Crawdaddy Club for Rolling Stones. In 1965, Clapton and the Yardbirds had their first hit, "For Your Love," which pushed Clapton to leave the band due to other members wanting to take a more pop-oriented direction. Clapton's replacement was Jeff Beck, who became another famous guitarist also sharing space with Clapton in the top five on Rolling Stone's 100 Top Guitarists list.
After moving into another band, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Clapton and his Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar were well on their way to a well-earned reputation as one the best blues guitarist on the club circuit. In 1966, Clapton left the Bluesbreakers was invited to join the band Cream, a supergroup made up of drummer Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce on bass. With Cream, Clapton made his American debut in New York in May of 1967, and soon after, the band had sold millions of records with tours booked throughout the US and Europe. It could be said that Cream's musical virtuosity and lengthy jazz-style improvisation sessions were the beginning of the modern idea of a jam band. During these years, Clapton formed friendships around the industry with other artists including George Harrison, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and Billy Preston.
After Cream's farewell record, Clapton wanted to show that he didn't need a starring role in a band and created Derek and the Dominoes, responsible for "Layla," one of Clapton's biggest popular hits. Heavily blues-influenced, the Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs album features the twin lead guitars of Clapton and Duane Allman, and was inspired by Clapton's unrequited affections to George Harrison's then-wife, Pattie Boyd, whom he married in 1979. Since then he has achieved solo success with songs such as "Tears in Heaven," "Wonderful Tonight," and "My Father's Eyes" which he has said were therapy for several tragedies in his life.
Clapton cites Freddie King, B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Hubert Sumlin as guitar playing influences and has influenced blues musician Robert Johnson to be his single most important influence. He has a net worth of $250 million, and purchased this house in 2003 for $1.25 million. His second and current wife, Melia McEnery, is from the region.
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By: Xeba73
