Eric Clapton, a guitarist and singer, was born in 1945 in Ripley, Surrey, England. He began his musical career in 1962 and rose to recognition as a member of The Yardbirds before joining John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, where he discovered his passion for blues music. However, he made his mark on rock history when he joined Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce to form the power trio Cream.
The musician had a successful solo career during the years that followed and worked with numerous other amazing musicians. He got the opportunity to perform and observe many excellent guitarists. He named three guitarists who he considered to be “the players” in an interview for the 1991 Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute. What he stated about those musicians over the years and his relationship with them was chosen by Rock and Roll Garage.
The 3 guitarists that Eric Clapton said he liked in the 90s
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Among the musicians who contributed to the Blues’ revival in the 1980s was Stevie Ray Vaughan, whose popular albums “Texas Flood” (1983) and “Couldn’t Stand The Weather” (1984) were particularly noteworthy. Eric Clapton first heard him perform on the radio as he was traveling down the road. In an interview for the book Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the musician said that he had the need to pull over and identify the guitarist.
Eric said, “I was driving, and ‘Let’s Dance’ (David Bowie) came on the radio. I stopped my car and said, ‘I have to know who this guitar player is today. Not tomorrow, but today.’ That has only happened to me three or four times ever. Probably not for anyone in between Duane Allman and Stevie.”
In the 1980s, Clapton had numerous opportunities to meet and perform with Stevie. even at his final performance, which took place in 1990 at Alpine Valley. Following the performance, the 35-year-old musician got into a chopper, which sadly crashed a short while later. He was at the top of his game, getting all the credit he deserved, and clean for the first time in years.
Eric Clapton lauded guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan’s distinct approach and technique during an interview for the movie “A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan”. “I remember being fascinated by the fact that he never ever seemed to be lost in any way. It wasn’t ever that he took a breather or paused to think where he was going to go next. So it just flowed out of him.”
He continued, “Always seemed to flow out of him. Actually even that doesn’t come just with virtuosity, practice or any of those. It’s not a question of doing it over and over again. Or anything like that. It’s just that he seemed to be an open channel. He just flowed throught him. He never ever seemed to kind of dry up.”
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy, one of the greatest Blues guitarists of all time, began his career in 1953, over ten years before Clapton. Since then, the guitarist has won eight Grammy Awards and collaborated with a large number of Blues and Rock and Roll performers.
Buddy and Clapton had already had the opportunity to meet in the late 1960s. Buddy’s career was further revitalized in 1990 when the British guitarist asked him to participate in the “24 nights.” This attempt brought together a great lineup of blues guitarists at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Buddy Guy was even inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 by B.B. King and Eric Clapton. During his remarks, the musician stated, “It’s a great honor and a privilege to induct this distinguish gentleman into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
“A man that mean so much to me personally and that as a musician has given so much to us all. It also provides me with the perfect opportunity to say ‘Thank you for all the inspiration he’s given me over the years.”
“He started playing and singing, his love and concern for the welfare of the Blues has been a great example for me and countless others who had the good fortune to share this road. My first experience of Buddy’s power was when I bought a record called ‘Folk Festival of The Blues’.”
Eric continued, “A little album, a live album recorded in Chicago in the 60s. In the company of such great artists such as Otis Spann, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson, Buddy did far more than to just hold his own.”
“With the greatest respect to all those fabulous masters, in my humble opinion he stoled the show. Coming from the back of the field like a throughbred racehorse, he’s shown through that genius ensemble. Taking no prisioners, letting everyone know that he was the new dangerous kid on the block.”
The two performers not only frequently performed together on stage over the years, but they also collaborated on albums.
Jimmie Vaughan
Jimmie Vaughan, the elder brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, began his career a few years ahead of his younger brother and went on to become one of the most significant Blues musicians of his time. He has been friends with Clapton for many years, and Jimmie frequently tours as his opening act.
In 2021, Vaughan disclosed in an interview with Goldmine magazine that Clapton played a significant role in supporting him following the untimely death of his brother. “Eric was very nice and wonderful and supportive through the whole thing. Then he called me up and said, ‘Why don’t you come play with me over here in England and get away from over there? Just come play guitar.”
“Just leave that behind you. Come play.’ I was like, ‘Okay, I can do that.’ So he really helped me come back out. It’s been 31 years. Can you believe that?”
Over the years, Jimmie Vaughan received four Grammy Awards. Two (1990 and 1996) for Instrumental Rock Performance. Moreover, one was awarded for the 1990 Contemporary Blues Recording and another for the 2001 Traditional Blues Album.