Eric Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, on March 30, 1945. His real father was a Canadian pilot but he didn't find that out until he was 53. He was brought up by his grandmother because his mother couldn't look after him - in fact, he thought that his grandmother was actually his real mother. When he was 14 he took up the guitar, having been influenced by blues artists such as 'B.B King' , Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. In 1963, after he was chucked out of art college, he joined The Yardbirds, as he was in art school with Keith Relf. He stayed for about 18 months before beginning a stint with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Eric became known as "god", as he impressed the whole English music scene with his amazing guitar playing. After about a year Eric had had enough of impersonating his blues idols and decided to form a group of his own, so in 1966 he formed a band with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker (who had the idea) that became known as Cream. This band was not a purist blues group but a hard-driving rock and blues trio. They first performed together at a jazz and blues festival in Surrey before signing a record contract. In November 1966 their debut single, "Wrapping Paper", hit UK #34, but their next single, "I Feel Free", made more of an impression, hitting UK #11 the following January. At the same time they released their debut album "Fresh Cream", which was a top-ten hit, going to UK #6 and went on to make US #39 later in the year. Cream spent most of 1967 either touring or writing, recording and producing "Disreali Gears", which was to be one of their finest efforts. The first single that confirmed the group as a mainstream success was "Strange Brew", which went to #17 in the UK. After a hectic worldwide tour, their second album "Disreali Gears" was released and became an enormous worldwide hit, rising to UK #5 and US #4. The album's success r4esulted in one of its tracks, "Sunshine Of Your Love", a hit in the US, going to #36. In February 1968 Cream set out on a six-month US tour, the longest time that a British band ad ever been in America. The tour took in hundreds of theaters, arenas and stadiums, but in April 1968 the band was exhausted and decided to take a short break from touring. However, during their break disaster struck. While Cream was in America Eric had given an interview to the magazine "Rolling Stone" which had Eric the editor make critical points about his guitar playing. This led to an eruption within the band that was the beginning of the end. Despite this setback, the band's US tour carried on until June, during which they had been recording their most popular project, "Wheels Of Fire", a double live album that was released in August 1968, shooting to UK #3 and the studio effort of UK #7, but both going directly to US #1 for four weeks. Despite the fact that the band had sold so many records, had sold out nearly every concert, had made millions and even managed to boost "Sunshine Of Your Love" to hit US #5 and UK #25, they decided that after a farewell tour of America the band would split up. The band toured North America in October, played two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November and the Cream was no more. Claptonexplained, "The Cream has lost direction." In the winter of 1969 Eric began jamming with former Traffic front man Stevie Winwood, with Ginger Baker also joining in Eric's mansion in Surrey. With bassist Ric Grech added to the lineup, the band became Blind Faith and started rehearsing and recording material. In June after the band finished a recording session for their first and only album, they made their live debut in Hyde Park to a crowd of over 200,000 fans. The concert itself didn't go too well, however, and Clapton and Winwood were more or less convinced that Blind Faith had blown it. However, despite their feelings, Blind Faith set out on a summer sellout tour of the US, playing in arenas and stadiums all over the country. The tour itself earned the band a fortune, but they were all convinced that the music itself was unsatisfying. After the tour was over, and their only album, "Blind Faith", was released, though, it wound up topping the charts worldwide. The band still decided to split up, though, and Clapton went on tour with Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, who were Blind Faith's support act on the tour, and also performed at times with The Plastic Ono Band.


His maternal grandparents, who brought him up, had the surname of Clapp. His grandmother had previously been married to a man called Clapton though, and during this time gave birth to Eric's mother. This is where the confusion about Eric's real surname comes from, but therefore is, in fact, Clapton. Had a daughter with Yvonne Kelly in 1986 - Made public in 1993. 8/21/86: Son Conor born. Mother is Lory Del Santo. Clapton was still married to Pattie Boyd at the time. Was a member of The Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Derek and the Dominoes. Both George Harrison and Clapton were respectively married to model Pattie Boyd. He wrote the songs "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight" about her. She and Clapton eventually married, nine years after he recorded "Layla". Children: daughter Ruth (b. 1985) and son Connor (b. 1986, d. 1991) 1/1/02: Clapton, 56, tied the knot with Melia McEnery, from Columbus, OH, in a low-key ceremony at a church near his home in Surrey, southern England. Guests were told they were attending the christening of the couple's six-month-old daughter Julie Rose. But after the baptism of Julie Rose and Clapton's 16-year-old daughter Ruth, the couple were called forward by vicar Rev. Christopher Elson and exchanged marriage vows. He is the only artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: as a member of The Yardbirds (1992); as a member of Cream (1993); and as a solo performer (2000). Expecting second child with wife Melia at end of 2002. July 2001: Voted the South East's best guitarist in Total Guitar Magazine's poll of the greatest 12 British guitarists. Stephen Stills asked him to join Crosby Stills & Nash so that he could help beef up their sound in concert. He refused due to the fact that he was in the middle of forming Blind Faith with Stevie Winwood. 1969: Played with John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band at the Toronto Pop Festival. Other members included Klaus Voormann on bass and Alan White (later of Bill Bruford) on drums. Cream's hits were "Wrapping Paper", "I Feel Free", "Strange Brew", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Anyone For Tennis", "Crossroads", "White Room" & "Badge". His current backing band involves people like guitarist Andy Fairweather-Low (ex-Amen Corner) and bassist Nathan East (Fourplay). Was cured of his heroin addiction through electro-acupuncture; singer Boy George received the same therapy ten years later. 2003: He was awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year's Eve Honours List for his services to music. 2/1/05: Daughter Sophie Clapton born. He was voted the 53rd Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone. While performing "Further On Up the Road" in The Last Waltz (1978), his guitar strap came undone. To cover for him while he fixed it, Robbie Robertson of The Band improvised a guitar solo. He owned and played a Gibson Byrdland guitar designed by famous guitarists Hank Garland and Billy Byrd. Cream: Royal Albert Hall, London May 2-3-5-6 2005 (2005) (V) was the first time Cream had played together since their 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Upon returning to England after recording the Derek & The Dominos album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," he was supporting a £1,000-per-week heroin addiction. Played two farewell concerts on 26th November: "Omnibus: Cream's Farewell Concert" (1969) in 1968, and The Last Waltz (1978) in 1976. Ironically, it was partially because of The Band's music that he decided to leave Cream in the first place. Shortly after the formation of Cream in 1966, the trio got a chance to jam with Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was a fan of Clapton, and wanted a chance to play with him on stage. Was the guest of honor at the MMA event "Pride Grand Prix 2000 Tournament", and awarded the winner, Mark "The Hammer" Coleman, with the First Prize Trophy. 1988: He became the first artist to have a Fender Stratocaster signature model. When Clapton appeared at Live Aid in Philadelphia, one of his backing drummers was Phil Collins. Hours before, Collins had appeared at Live Aid's London concert at Wembley Stadium. Biography/bibliography/discography in: "Contemporary Authors". Volume 265, pages 56-60. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Cengage Learning, 2008. He served Ginger Baker his very first French toast while discussing forming Cream. Former brother-in-law of Jenny Boyd.