Ode to the greatest guitarist of all times - Happy Birthday "Layla"

So I have been told to be short and crisp , so much so .
This is a tribute hence being short is a challenge .

Today is March 30 his birthday .So much so again am crisp .

The person am writing is a genius and an enigma - no person can impersonate !!
From his first solo after his own name to I still do (2016) he has been quite an influence on me and several others in 80's when we grew up.

Seminal , Ethereal , Surreal and Captivating - he is the last word in rock and blues guitar !! The instrument has seen ground breaking metamorphosis when he plays it ..

He is the only three - time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yard birds and  Cream. He has been referred to as one of the most important and influential  guitarists of all times. Ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the " 100 Greatest Guitarists of all times " and fourth in  "Gibson's top 50 Guitarists of all time ." He was also named number five in Time Magazine's list of  " The 10 best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009.


So much so for records and statistics - Music as they say transcend border of religion , cast , creed , culture, everything.  And so true for this man - From Afghanisthan to Zambia - his music breaks all barriers .

Beginning with the Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluebreakers and then Cream, Blind Faith and Delaney and Bonnie and Friends - he has had a remarkable journey in groups where he set stage for a remarkable solo career that was to be for the next 4 decades !!

While he was briefly with " Derek & Dominoes" happened Layla which was the foundation and glimpse of what he was to offer to the world .. 

Like many other musicians his flirtation with drug overdose, alcohol and women ( briefly) was the stepping stone to an era of enthralling guitarplay and music .

His contribution to world music and his wide repertoire has been such that it will take a book to narrate his unbelievable achievements - this piece doesnt aim at that .

It on the other hand dwells  on  the maverick  genius that this man is and the profound faith he has in life . I am more interested in detailing one single incident of his life that was to shape his future as a wonderful artist of our times - how many can create such sublime music after his 4 year son falls of the 53rd floor of his apartment and dies  ?

Death of children untimely , has destroyed many a father - but grief overpouring in form of music - how many fathers can create ?

His terrible sadness was expressed in the song  "Tears in Heaven", which was co -written by Will Jennings. At the 35th Grammy Awards, he received six Grammys for the single  "Tears in Heaven" and his Unplugged  album.  The album reached number one on the Billboard 200, and has since been certified Diamond by the RIAA for selling over 10 million copies in the US. On 9 September 1992, he performed "Tears in Heaven" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, and won the award for Best Male Video.

Happy Birthday - Eric Patrick Clapton for a musician and artist like you is born once a millenium . May you enthrall us for ages.