Eric Clapton was born in 1945, in Surrey, England, and began to play the guitar as a teenager. He was especially drawn to the earthy sound of American music, particularly the blues of Robert Johnson, Freddie King, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Guy. At the age of seventeen he joined The Roosters, and later played with Casey Jones and The Engineers. In October, 1963, he joined The Yardbirds, staying with them until March, 1965, and appearing on their first album, Five Live Yardbirds, which was recorded during a performance at the Marquee Club in London and released in 1964. (It was during this time that Eric Clapton gained the nickname of "Slowhand.") When The Yardbirds had a hit in both the United Kingdom and the United States with "For Your Love" (written by Graham Gouldman), Eric Clapton became unhappy and resolved to quit the band, saying that he wanted only to play authentic blues. After Eric Clapton left The Yardbirds, he accepted an offer to play with Joh...