Eric Clapton: Christian

Speaking of the interaction of faith with contemporary culture, one of my recent books from the public library was Clapton: The Autobiography. I knew his music but what had made me get the book was hearing that he was also a Christian: Eric Clapton, In the Presence of the Lord. Here's a review of the book at the NYT: Slowhand.

It covers his childhood, the early bands he was a part of (Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith) and the many musicians he jammed with (B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison), his relationship with Harrison's wife, later his wife. It also covers more somber subjects, like his drug and alcohol addictions and the death of his four year old son.

What got him through the bad stuff was in part his faith, and he went on to found a drug and alcohol rehab clinic in Antigua - watch Ed Bradley and 60 Minutes visit the clinic here.

Here is the song he wrote about his son, Tears in Heaven ...

Here he and B.B King play at The White House, 1999 ...

And here is one of my favorite songs of his which he wrote with George Harrison, Badge ..