Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, (born 30 March 1945) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time.Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"and fourth in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time".In the mid-1960s, Clapton left the Yardbirds to play blues with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Immediately after leaving Mayall, Clapton joined Cream, a power trio with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and "arty, blues-based psychedelic pop".For most of the 1970s, Clapton's output bore the influence of the mellow style of JJ Cale and the reggae of Bob Marley. His version of Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" helped reggae reach a mass market.Two of his most popular recordings were "Layla", recorded by Derek and the Dominos, another band he formed, and Robert Johnson's "Crossroads", recorded by Cream. Following the death of his son Conor in 1991, Clapton's grief was expressed in the song "Tears in Heaven", which featured in his Unplugged album.
Clapton has been the recipient of 17 Grammy Awards, and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004, he was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music.In 1998, Clapton, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, founded the Crossroads Centre on Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers.Contents 1 Early life
2 Early career, breakthrough, and international success
2.1 The Yardbirds and the Bluesbreakers
2.2 Cream
2.3 Blind Faith, and Delaney and Bonnie and Friends
3 "Layla" and solo career
3.1 Derek and the Dominos
3.2 Personal challenges and early solo success
4 Continued success
5 Resurgence and stardom
6 Collaboration albums
7 Clapton, Old Sock and recent events
8 Influences
9 Legacy
10 Guitars
11 Woman tone
12 Other media appearances
13 Personal life
13.1 Relationships and children
13.2 Political views
13.3 Controversy over remarks on immigration
13.4 Wealth and assets
13.5 Charitable work
14 Awards and honours
15 Football
16 Clapton's music in film and TV
17 Discography
17.1 Solo studio albums
18 References
19 Further reading
20 External links
Clapton has been the recipient of 17 Grammy Awards, and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004, he was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music.In 1998, Clapton, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, founded the Crossroads Centre on Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers.Contents 1 Early life
2 Early career, breakthrough, and international success
2.1 The Yardbirds and the Bluesbreakers
2.2 Cream
2.3 Blind Faith, and Delaney and Bonnie and Friends
3 "Layla" and solo career
3.1 Derek and the Dominos
3.2 Personal challenges and early solo success
4 Continued success
5 Resurgence and stardom
6 Collaboration albums
7 Clapton, Old Sock and recent events
8 Influences
9 Legacy
10 Guitars
11 Woman tone
12 Other media appearances
13 Personal life
13.1 Relationships and children
13.2 Political views
13.3 Controversy over remarks on immigration
13.4 Wealth and assets
13.5 Charitable work
14 Awards and honours
15 Football
16 Clapton's music in film and TV
17 Discography
17.1 Solo studio albums
18 References
19 Further reading
20 External links
