Clapton then toured with Delaney & Bonnie and recorded his first solo album in 1970, before forming Derek and the Dominos with Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Clapton then formed the blues rock band Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech, recording one album and performing on one tour before they broke up. After four successful albums, Cream broke up in November 1968. After leaving Mayall, he formed the power trio Cream with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and 'arty, blues-based psychedelic pop'. Īfter playing in a number of different local bands, Clapton joined the Yardbirds from 1963 to 1965, and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers from 1965 to 1966. He was also named number five in Time magazine's list of 'The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players' in 2009. In 2023, Clapton was named the 35th best guitarist of all time. He ranked second in Rolling Stone 's list of the ' 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time' and fourth in Gibson 's 'Top 50 Guitarists of All Time'.
He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born 30 March 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
