Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Jun 15, 2025
On this Father’s Day we are spotlighting a British rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in music history.
Born in 1945, he gained early fame in the 60s as a member of The Yardbirds and later with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, where his guitar prowess earned him the nickname “Slowhand.”
He went on to form the supergroup Cream, producing classic hits like “Sunshine of Your Love” and “White Room.” His career also includes work with Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos (“Layla” being one of their best-known songs), and an extensive solo career that showcased both his blues roots and pop capability.
In 1998 he released a deeply personal song that resulted in receiving a BMI Award for Song Of The Year and a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a male. The song was to be his last Top 40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at the #16 position.
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The song reflects his emotional struggles with the absence of his biological father, whom he never met, and the tragic loss of his four-year-old son Conor in 1991. He once explained that when he looked into his son’s eyes, he imagined what it might have been like to look into his own father’s eyes. The song is about longing, healing, and the emotional complexity of parenthood and legacy.
The song remains as one of Eric Clapton’s most heartfelt works, standing as a testament to his ability to channel personal pain into music that resonates universally. Here’s “My Father’s Eyes,” this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.
YouTube listing of the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JibodCUsLU
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
