Eric Clapton Translates From Black To White
-NEW ORLEANS-
Eric Clapton, legendary blues, rock and pop musician, has been paying homage to Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters his entire career, translating black delta blues music to an audience of now-primarily white, middle-aged listeners.
However, Clapton's capacity for transferring black thought onto a white populace has begun to expand to other areas of expression, including speech. An instance of Clapton's burgeoning ability was cited on Zatarain's Bayou Bus, which takes travellers around New Orlean's historic French Quarter.
While on the tour, African-American guide Trey Anderson invited Clapton to be his guest tour guide after recognizing him. While passing the Gallier House Museum, which depicts thousands of Creole and Afro-Cuban artifacts, Anderson tried to explain the rich history of the New Orleans area. Passengers politely nodded.
At that point, Clapton asked the tour guide if he had heard him correctly, and repeated a chunk of what Anderson had just said to confirm what he thought was said. At that moment, the passengers collectively went 'ah' in profound recognition of Clapton's 'cover' of Anderson's information.
Anderson was astonished and disappointed at the lack of recognition.
Clapton has been no stranger to re-introducing black artist's works and riding the coattails to success with white people. The talented guitarist took Bob Marley's song "I Shot The Sheriff" to #1 in 1974 on his 461 Ocean Boulevard album.