Eric Clapton Eric Clapton Eric Clapton at the Tsunami Relief Concert at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, UK on 22 January 2005 Origin Ripley, Surrey, England Years active 1963 - Present Genre(s) Blues Rock Label(s) Polydor Warner Atlantic Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born March 30, 1945), nicknamed "Slowhand", is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and composer, who became one of the most respected and influential musicians of the rock-era, garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Clapton is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in popular music history. Although Clapton's musical style has varied throughout his career, it has always remained rooted in the Blues. Clapton is credited as an innovator in several phases of his career, which have included Blues-Rock (with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and The Yardbirds) and Hard Rock (with Cream). Clapton has also achieved great chart success in genres ranging from Delta Blues (the acoustic MTV Unplugged album), Rock ("Sunshine of Your Love"), Pop ("Change the World") and Reggae ("I Shot the Sheriff").