The only singer Eric Clapton considers to be perfect: “That’s how it’s done”
While Eric Clapton is most commonly celebrated for his guitar playing, there’s no denying he’s also one of the best-known voices in rock music. After leaving Cream to step up to the mic as a frontman, tracks like ‘Layla’ and ‘Wonderful Tonight’ established him as a strong singer, too. But according to the man himself, no one could ever beat the best as he considers one singer to be the absolute blueprint for vocal greatness and the perfect model for getting a great performance.
When considering Clapton’s peers, the question of who he might consider to be the best vocalist could have countless answers. He spent time hanging out with The Beatles, so perhaps John Lennon, Paul McCartney or even his complex best friend George Harrison would have taken the top spot. Maybe he would give that honour to Jack Bruce, the vocalist for Cream who soundtracked some of the best rock songs in history like ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’. As one of the creme de la creme of the 1960s scene, it would likely be expected that he’d pick out someone from his own genre as his ultimate guide to vocal performance.
But in reality, he looked beyond the realm of rock and out to the leader of another genre. Especially when it came to making ‘That’s No Way to Get Along’, his cover of Robert Wilkins’ 1930s blues track, he knew that he had to look towards the masters of that circle instead in order to pull the song off.
In fact, the song highlighted a long running insecurity of Clapton’s. “I hate my singing. It all sounds like I’m 16 years old from Surbiton,” he said as the famed guitarist admitted that really, his role as a singer has always seemed rocky and uncertain in comparison to his assuredness when it comes to the six string.
So while many look to Clapton as the ultimate inspiration and a leader of his craft in guitar, the man himself has always looked up to another singer for his own guidance to help heal that lingering worry.
“When I watch Ray Charles sing I think, ‘That’s it, that’s how it’s done’”, he said, picking out the blues legend as a vital inspiration. Aptly known as ‘The Genius’, Charles’ influence spreads far and wide, with Clapton being only one of countless musicians who hold him up as a shiny golden example.
But it’s not just about Charles’ musicality or range in his vocals, instead for Clapton it’s more about the sense of emotion and motivation he put behind every word. “He remembers thousands of songs, and he sings them all as if they’re the most important songs he knows,” Clapton said, loving Charles best for the level of passion he gave to each performance.
That’s what Clapton reminds himself of when he gets in the booth to lay down the vocals for his own track. While aware he could never match up to the incredible versatility and range of Charles’ voice, he reminds himself that its the feeling behind it all that matters.
