Celebrate Eric Clapton's birthday with his greatest hits

Eric Clapton is one of the most influential guitarists of all time.

He started his musical journey at a very young age. As a teen, his hobby was playing the guitar, which he taught himself how to play. 

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In an interview with guitlines, he said he had no hope anywhere except when playing the guitar, especially after finding out that the people who he thought were his parents, were actually his grandparents. 

"I channelled everything into playing the guitar," he said. 

Clapton's success in the music industry is to be admired. He's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times and won a couple of Grammy Awards. 

In the 1960s, he joined a group called Cream, which launched him into stardom at the age of 21. 

Like many stars, Clapton had his downs in life. He was not only addicted to drugs and alcohol, but he fell in love with his best friend George Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd. The two went on to get married. Clapton even released a song about Boyd called, 'Layla'.

In 1976, Clapton hit rock bottom during a show where he made racist and xenophobic statements. He also struggled with suicidal thoughts. 

But, after all his downs, Clapton managed to get up and put his life together, continuing to release music that touched the hearts of many people around the world. 

Not only does he use music as a tool to entertain and heal others, but it has also healed him. One of his biggest hits - which helped him heal, is 'Tears in heaven', a song he wrote after the death of his son Conor in 1991. It is found on his album, 'Unplugged'.  

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Some of his biggest songs include: 'Wonderful Tonight', a song he released in 1977, 'Change The World' and 'My Father's Eyes', which he released in 1998, and 'Sweet Home Chicago' and 'Autumn Leaves'. 

Enjoy music by one of the most popular names in the history of rock music by listening to his classic hits below:

Image courtesy of Instagram/ @Ericclapton

Enjoy Eric Clapton's songs on East Coast Gold.