Is Eric Clapton a "Bluesman"?

[Mindful]

Peter Green was the Master and Blues backbone of the original group...

 

[bluzman61]

Eric Clapton IS a bluesman, there's no doubt of that. He's lived the blues (His son, Conor, died VERY young.) and has played the blues all of his professional life. He's strayed away from blues music at times, I think just to give his music variety. And he's one of THE best guitarists you'll ever hear.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The way I look at the Blues and the conveyers of the emotions in the lyrics and the music is very personal...
Biggest contributor to the Blues imho is Love and all the bullshit that goes with it... bluzman61 you mention the death of EC's son and how EC possibly is influenced is writing style which I can't contest... Personal tragedy in one's life can be devastating...
A broken heart...
a bottle of liquor...
a pen & pad of paper...
a keyboard or an acoustical axe (or both) ...

I'm 67 years old and for most of my life I have wished I had just a little musical ability... It's not going to happen...