Delaney and Bonnie and Freinds - 1969

1969 was a pivotal year for Eric Clapton. It was the year he learned to sing. It happened on the Delaney and Bonnie and Freinds tour,which at times included George Harrison, who was still with The Beatles. The comparative luxury of playing with a band, on tour, without all the fanfare generated by The Beatles, was one of the things which influenced him in his decision to leave the band briefly in January 1969 during the filming of "Get Back."

Clapton had not sung while a lot while in Cream, leaving that task to Jack Bruce, and it wasn't until the Blind Faith Album on which he began to sing. But still, for the most part, the singing was left to Steve Windwood.

Listen to the vocals on this video and see if it's not the same vocal style as Eric Clapton. Not only was this association with Delaney and Bonnie beneficial to Clapton as a vocalist, but as you will note in the video, it also marks his first association with Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock and Jim Gordon, who would become the nucleus of Derek and the Dominoes, along with Clapton and Duane Allman. Their album "Layla", recorded a mere 2 years later, would go on to make musical history.