TV-Now
Search for your favorite stars on TV:
 
Stars on TV: Everything You Want to Know

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton TV Listings

Eric Clapton is not on TV in the next 2 weeks

Eric Clapton Biography

Eric Clapton
  • Birth Name: Eric Patrick Clapton
  • Birth Place: Ripley, Surrey, England
  • Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 03/30/1945, Aries
  • Profession: Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Eric Clapton Fast Facts:
  • Raised by his grandparents.
  • Believed that his mother Patricia, who had him out-of-wedlock at age 16, was his sister; learned the truth at age 9.
  • Never met his biological father, who was a Canadian soldier stationed in Britain during World War II.
  • Introduced to the blues by Uncle Mac's Children's Hour, a children's radio show that occasionally played blues songs. 
  • Received his first guitar at age 13.
  • Influences included Big Bill Broonzy and Muddy Waters.
  • Joined his first band, the Roosters, at age 17, in early 1963.
  • Recruited to the Yardbirds in October 1963; earned the nickname "Slowhand" during his stint with the band.
  • Quit the Yardbirds because of their move to a pop sound with the hit single "For Your Love."
  • Joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, a blues-purist group, in 1965. It was with them that he earned another nickname: "God."
  • Formed Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in July 1966.
  • Broke up Cream in 1968 due to personality conflicts and a desire to get away from music driven by extended guitar solos. 
  • Played lead guitar on the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
  • Became a close friend of George Harrison. 
  • Formed the supergroup Blind Faith with Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech after Cream disbanded. The band released one album before breaking up.
  • Backed John Lennon at the Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival Festival in 1969.
  • Though unsure of himself as a singer, he pressed on with vocals and released his self-titled solo debut in 1970.
  • Formed Derek and the Dominos in 1970, releasing the classic Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs album that same year.
  • Inspired by his then-unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, wife of George Harrison, to write "Layla."
  • Wrote the Grammy-winning "Tears From Heaven" for his 4-year-old son Conor, who died in 1991 when he fell from a 53rd-floor apartment in New York City.
  • Struggled with addictions to alcohol and heroin, finally becoming sober in 1987.
  • Founded Crossroads Centre, an alcohol-drug treatment facility in Antigua, in 1998.
  • Has played guitar on songs by Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, George Harrison, Elton John, B.B. King, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills, Sting, Roger Waters and Frank Zappa.
  • Three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: with the Yardbirds (1992), Cream (1993) and on his own (2000).
  • Published the acclaimed, best-selling Clapton: The Autobiography in 2007.
    Eric Clapton Relationships:
  • Brian MacDonald - Half Brother
  • Cheryl MacDonald - Half Sister
  • Conor Clapton - Son
  • Edward Walter Fryer - Father
  • Ella May Clapton - Daughter
  • Frank MacDonald - Stepfather
  • Heather MacDonald - Half Sister
  • Jack Clapp - Grandfather
  • Julie Rose Clapton - Daughter
  • Lori Del Santo - Ex-significant Other
  • Melia McEnery - Wife
  • Patricia Molly Clapton - Mother
  • Pattie Boyd - Ex-wife
  • Rose Clapp - Grandmother
  • Ruth Clapton - Daughter
  • Sheryl Crow - Ex-significant Other
  • Sophie Belle Clapton - Daughter
  • Yvonne Kelly - Ex-significant Other

    • Eric Clapton Awards:
  • 1972 Grammy: Album of the Year - Winner
  • 2007 Grammy: Best Contemporary Blues Album - Winner
  • 2001 Grammy: Best Pop Instrumental Performance - Winner
  • 2000 Grammy: Best Traditional Blues Album - Winner
  • 1999 Grammy: Best Rock Instrumental Performance - Winner
  • 1998 Grammy: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Winner
  • 1996 Grammy: Record of the Year - Winner
  • 1996 Grammy: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Winner
  • 1996 Grammy: Best Rock Instrumental Performance - Winner
  • 1994 Grammy: Best Traditional Blues Album - Winner
  • 1992 Grammy: Record of the Year - Winner
  • 1992 Grammy: Album of the Year - Winner
  • 1992 Grammy: Song of the Year - Winner
  • 1992 Grammy: Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male - Winner
  • 1992 Grammy: Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male - Winner
  • 1992 Grammy: Best Rock Song - Winner
  • 1990 Grammy: Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male - Winner
  • 1992 Golden Globe: Best Original Song - Motion Picture - Nominee
  • 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Special Class - Not-exclusively-made-for-television Variety, Music, Comedy Event Programs - Winner

  • College:
  • Attended Kingston College of Art, Kingston-Upon-Thames, England
Eric Clapton Biography, TV Listings and More from TVGuide.com
Advertisement

Shop for Eric Clapton items

Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved
Buy Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved from Amazon.com
From Touchstone (Hardcover)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarhalfstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $17.16 (as of 12:55 PM EST - more info
Eric Clapton - One More Car One More Rider
Buy Eric Clapton - One More Car One More Rider from Amazon.com
From Warner Bros / Wea (DVD)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarhalfstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $15.99 (as of 12:55 PM EST - more info