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Eric Clapton - Eric Patrick Clapton was born on March 30, 1945 in Ripley, Surrey in England. The singer-songwriter and rock and blues guitarist boasts a music career that spans over 55 years.

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Young Eric - Clapton was born to 16-year-old Brit Patricia Molly Clapton and 24-year-old Canadian soldier Edward Walter Fryer during WWII. Soon after his birth, Fryer returned to Canada to his wife and family.

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Family matters - Clapton was raised by his grandparents. He was eight when he found out that his grandparents weren't his parents, and that his sister was actually his mother.

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Art school - He was accepted into Kingston College of Art at 16. That's where he found his love and passion for the guitar.

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Music idols -

A young Eric Clapton (pictured) looked up to blues artists such as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Alexis Korner.

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Expelled from college -

Clapton was expelled from college after a year for lack of progress.

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Big break - After being expelled, Clapton made his way into London's West End music scene. In January 1963, he joined the band The Roosters.

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The Yardbirds - Clapton then joined The Yardbirds in October 1963.

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The Yardbirds - Although he achieved commercial success with the band for hits like 'For Your Love' and 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl,' Clapton left the band in 1965.

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John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers - He soon after joined blues rock band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.

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"God" - The album 'The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton' brought Clapton huge recognition and success as a guitarist.  This lead to his nickname "God."

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"Slowhand" - In addition, music manager Giorgio Gomelsky gave Clapton the ironic nickname of "Slowhand" because of his fast playing.

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Derek and the Dominos -

In 1970, Clapton formed a new band with Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon,and Carl Radle, called Derek and the Dominos. The band broke up after a year.

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Cream - Clapton was invited to join the band Cream in 1966. His time with Cream is considered the peak of his career.

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Blind Faith - Cream broke up 1969, and soon after Clapton formed the band Blind Faith, which broke up after only one album.

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An engagement - In the same year, Clapton got engaged to Alice Ormsby Gore, daughter of Lord Harlech.

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'Slowhand' the album -

Clapton took his nickname and made his fifth studio album out of it in 1977. It became one of his most famous albums.

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Pattie Boyd - While with Derek and the Dominos, Clapton also recorded a concept album 'Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.' The album was dedicated to Pattie Boyd, George Harrison's wife, who he had fallen in love with.

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Struggling with failure - Unfortunately, the concept album was a commercial flop. As a result, Clapton fell into a deep depression and became a heroin addict. He also struggled with alcohol dependency.

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Unfaithful addict - Clapton went on to marry Pattie Boyd in 1979. However, the guitarist was unable to fight his addictions and was often unfaithful.

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Children - While married to Boyd, Clapton had a daughter, Ruth, with record label manager Yvonne Kelly in 1985. He also had a son, Conor, with Italian model Lory Del Santo in 1986. Boyd and Clapton divorced in 1989.

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Tragic death - In 1991, the guitarist's son Conor died after falling out of a 53rd-floor window. Clapton's song 'Tears in Heaven' was inspired by the pain and tragedy of his loss.

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Sober life - The rock and blues artist quit drinking in 1987 and has remained sober ever since.

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New wife, new life -

Sobriety helped Clapton regain happiness in life. He went on to marry Melia McEnery in 2002. They have three daughters together.

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A grandfather - In 2013, his eldest daughter Ruth welcomed a son whom she named Isaac Eric Owen Bartlett.

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Health issues - Clapton has suffered from peripheral neuropathy since 2016, a condition that causes nerve damage. It has left the guitarist with continuous leg and back pain.

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One of the best - In 2015, Clapton was ranked the second greatest guitarist in history by Rolling Stone magazine.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - He is the only artist who has been honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times.

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Grammy Awards - He has won over 15 Grammy Awards and been nominated more than 35 times.

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Net worth -

Clapton is said to be worth over US$300 million.

See also: Celebrities who tragically lost their children

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