The Tragic Death of Eric Clapton's Son and How it Inspired His Hit Song Tears in Heaven

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The Tragic Death of Eric Clapton's Son and How it Inspired His Hit Song Tears in Heaven

Рет қаралды 8,869

Күн бұрын

🎵Eric Clapton's life story is one of great success as well as great tragedy. On This Episode of the Roots Music History Podcast, We are digging up the ROOTS to the sad story behind Eric Clapton's Greatest Hit song - Tears in Heaven. The song was written after his son's tragic death when he fell from a New York City window. After his son's death, Eric Clapton's grief put him into a deep depression. While mourning Conor's loss, he received a chilling letter in the mail. His son had written the letter just a week or so before his death. It read: "I want to see you again". Spooked by the handwriting and the words, Eric retreated further into a reclusive state. It was in that state of mind that he wrote the song Tears in Heaven which went on to sell more than 3Million copies alone. In Today's Roots Music History Documentary, we dig up the roots that grew the song Tears in Heaven and I tell you the FULL story behind Eric Clapton and this top selling song, including where it all went wrong on that fateful day of Conor's death. 🎵
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© ROOTS MUSIC, LLC | MUSIC HISTORY PODCAST DOCUMENTARIES
#music #history #documentary #podcast #inspirationalstory #success #guitarist #songwriter #musician #podcastshow #podcaster #rockandroll
Chapters:
0:00-0:45 Introduction
0:45-4:52 A Troubled Childhood
4:52-8:01 The Road to Stardom
8:01-10:11 Love Triangles
10:11-15:17 Enter: Lory
15:17-20:35 Enter: Conor
20:35-23:10 NYC’s Galleria Condominiums
23:10 - 25:22 The Owner of the Apartment
25:22 - 32:36 An Inside Look + What Actually Happened
32:17-35:55 The Forgotten Letter That Inspired Tears in Heaven
35:55-36:19 Conclusion

Пікірлер: 64

@carlaadams5117 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for remembering Conor in this video.

@jlyn9047 3 ай бұрын

Thats kinda mature looking printing for a 4 year old.

@stevemason5173 2 ай бұрын

I thought the same thing there... I definitely do not believe it was written by 4 year old Connor...

@KarenSteelMusic Ай бұрын

Agree

@de2885 Ай бұрын

I don't see why the family would give the public their dead sons letter to his Dad.

@Krullmatic Ай бұрын

Well, British people are much more educated than Americans.

@nuwon8154 17 күн бұрын

I was writing little stories by the time I was 4. That was in 1985.

@bradparker9664 8 ай бұрын

You apparently mined the Ed Bradley interview of about 20 years ago, where EC talks about not being able to face the scene when he walked over to the scene where Connor's body was located. I'm glad that was a source...as one in recovery myself it's one of the most powerful interviews (he covers a LOT in that interview) I've ever seen...there are bits to which I can relate a bit too closely. As a guitarist, let me assure anyone who does not play that "Tears in Heaven" is very complex composition for the for a rock guitarist anyway, and it's amazing it came to him the way it did. I mean this is not some formulaic progression like "Wonderful Tonight" or "Layla" any of his other songs. "Tears in Heaven" is pretty unique in the Clapton catalog. He'd kind of retired that track for a time, but when I saw him 2 months ago in Denver it was a centerpiece of the acoustic set. Another very well done video...since I just found your channel today, you're two for two. With best wishes.

@terrysalminen4951 Ай бұрын

Lory said that when she turned 18 her parents had nothing more to offer her. Someone slap her upside the head. I moved out of my parents house at 17on good terms . Now I'm almost 64 and I can't bear the thought of losing my 81 yo mother. I cherish her and every moment we spend together. She is constantly giving Someone something. Food, comfort ,sage advice and funny anecdotes. We are still finding personality similarities at our ages. In fact, yesterday we were comparing notes on grief, she lost my dad in 2002 and I lost my partner in 2016 I was telling her about a poem by Ghandi that triggered sudden tears & how strange it was that I still get the spontaneous tears over such seemingly little things after this time. She said it happens to her, too. Oh, man, this poor Lory lady is a piece of work. I hope that she got some help. ❤

@connierenna-xf9um 3 ай бұрын

I’m getting chills as you’re talking about the note from Conor and the ensuing song that Eric was inspired to write . Thanks for a great video. I did read Eric’s autobiography a while back, which was very uplifting despite his telling of this period of his life.

@jentleil2183 Ай бұрын

Excellent video, thank you

@esayag Ай бұрын

You are amazing. Bless you

@raypickett971 6 ай бұрын

I am very impressed with your site Miss? I’ve watched your “Hendrix Death” vid also excellent and I agree completely on your take of both. By happenstance, my Brother was one of the two Paramedics that arrived first one the scene and was the one who pronounced Connor dead. He told me that Lori was screaming and also screaming at Clapton because he wasn’t showing any emotion. By NYC law they both were taken By my Brother and in a Limo to St.Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village. (Currently closed and no longer operative.) to undergo A psych evaluation so that they wouldn’t do anything rash in light of the death of Connor. He said Clapton, was quite sad but holding together fine. He does corroborate that the maid chased Connor and he ran strait to the window and flew right out, he next let out a high pitched scream. My Brother was there in the Penthouse during the Police Interview until the time to leave for St.Vincent’s. A very sad tale indeed. Excellent work, may I suggest the murder of Felix Papallardi (Bass Player/ Keyboards for The Rock Group Mountain and by ironic twist the Producer and songwriting collaborator with Clapton and Cream) a most twisted and equally as tragic a story. Thanks again! -Ray

@midlifemotox 4 ай бұрын

Conor's mom seems like a piece of work.

@catmansma 3 ай бұрын

No not really. Unless Eric said so, but no...she went on and lost 2 more children, and as a mother myself who lost a child, you go through life but, it is a portion of yourself. Each day an act of " being ok" How she survived losing 3 children..I do mot know.

@kelcritcarroll Ай бұрын

@@catmansmai hope she is nt manshausens by proxy

@marcrigor6423 11 ай бұрын

Really appreciate this video! Very in depth. One thing different from how others described it is that they say Eric was told after arriving. I'm not sure if a call was possible simce he was only 5min away when it happened and that wouldnt even give ambulances enough time to arrive. The other difference is that the maid was said to have screamed when conor fell and thats how she knew.

@ROOTSMUSICHISTORY 10 ай бұрын

I'm so glad you found this video!!!! I was feeling slightly disheartened that it may have been buried it hadn't gotten much traction! sometimes I hear things in interviews and they end up not being true. Eric Clapton also told Rolling Stone that he bought Blackie at The Picking Parlor in Nashville, TN. He did not! He bought it at a place called GTR which would eventually become Gruhn guitars. Rolling Stone printed the incorrect information and then was hesitant to do a re-print because Eric told them he got it at the picking parlor. Well....... honestly, though, Eric was doing quite a bit of cocaine at that time! lol! People get their own life stories wrong all the time! So very valid point. Even though he said that in an interview does not mean it went down that way!

@catmansma 3 ай бұрын

Eric was only blocks away in NYC. He was getting ready to have lunch with Conor when he received the call. He went into shock and continued exactly what he was going to do, was weak over to the Galleria. By that time , yes, emergency vehicles were in place. He couldn't go see his son dead. Imagine the condition, although I saw the photos..I don't know how they got out, but fortunately they were from a distance and not to clear. I buried a child. I didn't want to attend the funeral. It is hard to look at your child dead. But, my family made me. I barely remember it and yet the shock traumatized me 28 years later. Eric did go to identify the baby's body..twice. in NYC and the UK. He was a smart, well loved boy, and one that didn't put down the guitar. Sobered his daddy up. I cried like I had lost my own.

@JustLearning Ай бұрын

Enjoyed the video. I don't know what kind of microphone you used on the video but it sounded like an echo. Suggest you use a lapel microphone. All the best.

@ROOTSMUSICHISTORY Ай бұрын

Thank you!! It’s been a JOURNEY to figure out the audio on this channel but I think the more recent videos are much better! Let me know what you think!

@greypilgrim6157 Ай бұрын

Eric Clapton quit the Yardbirds, he wasn’t fired. He hated For Your Love, and only played on the rocking chorus part, and then quit right after the recording. Also despite whatever controversy there was over the album it didn’t do anything to hurt album sales. If anything the controversy helped album sales. The album was huge and went platinum fairly quickly in the US and Australia, and went gold in three other countries, England, Canada, and Spain of all places, and has sold over 8 million copies to date.

@Krullmatic Ай бұрын

Yeah, she's really bad at this.

@greypilgrim6157 Ай бұрын

@@Krullmatic yeah. Her videos aren’t terrible overall but she does get some details wrong which really casts doubt on certain things. Watch her Hendrix video. She refers to his manager as Eric Burdon throughout, when it was Chas Chandler. That really bothers me like how can you get that detail wrong??

@epic6434 28 күн бұрын

@@greypilgrim6157 Jim wore that red coat turned on the Malibu Benedict Arnold thing he wore a 🧣 tassels like doilies 😂 the jack kit get it? Union Jack mick tulip wanked him wiff his 👄 that's why that icon was there badge awe tinks tinkers 🛎 reverend played the anthum like a psyco del ick dee moned did u sea that gig? Like hee was possessed such aye hero in nurse sloppy jollopy Janise gobble gew 💉 they were all over tarnations tying knots they're h arms get it? Pink floid had some 🗝 word's drop pinging everywhere I turned that evel off and listened to the Eagles now there's a GREAT BRAND DON HENLEY GLEN FRYE JOE WALSH maybe Welsh the Band was stacked with talent musicians like magician's at the house of Allah Heart another band steel listen to their song's who wouldn't want those American thighs knocking out fellas eh? Slick Rick you herd of ?still ties bleeck goys like aye line ove communist kay shuns 😂 you all love wonderland rye tea oh? TRIP EL OZE

@DanielFeinstein 2 жыл бұрын

How weird...Synchronicities??? You really did hit upon Blind Faith! One of my all-time favorite albums! Right behind Jeff Beck, Clapton is my go-to for guitar inspiration. I subscribed to your channel the other night, after I watched your video on Lynyrd Skynyrd, and James Taylor. This stuff is right up my alley. Keep up the good work!

@ROOTSMUSICHISTORY 2 жыл бұрын

Right on! And agree Jeff beck is always first ! I saw Jeff Beck at the Chicago theater for the first time I’m still not over it !!

@DanielFeinstein 2 жыл бұрын

@@ROOTSMUSICHISTORY I don't know if you've ever heard it, but you should listen to his version of "Morning Dew" from the first album called, Truth, with Rod Stewart on vocals, and Ron Wood on bass from 1968. My favorite song EVER! Has been since the age of 11! Then after that, listen to the Rough And Ready album!

@robertalaughlin6757 Ай бұрын

If written by Connor, I don't believe Eric Clapton meant in his song that he literally thought they wouldn't know one another. I believe he meant it wasn't his time. As much as he probably wanted to be with Connor, he knew it wasn't possible. My own dear mother, had 9 children. Her oldest daughter died age 27. When my mom got a terminal diagnosis of cancer, after my sister had been gone 30 years, my mother said to me, " I can go be with Judi now." I knew I would feel the same in her position. That Eric Clapton may have wished to be with his son in heaven, he knew it wasn't in Gods plan. Just an unthinkable tradgity. God bless Connor and his family. God Bless Eric Clapton for writing such a beautiful song!

@roscmon 2 ай бұрын

What's up with the audio on the video. It keeps bouncing around. So annoying.

@Sargent1987 7 ай бұрын

I cant imagine living with this happening. Extremely sad

@mikecushing7276 Ай бұрын

Eric Clapton went down to the crossroads and got down on his knees. He signed a contract.

@gouveia305 3 ай бұрын

I’m impressed on how well Conor writes at the age of 4. Specifically back then, so many years ago. Poor boy. I felt terrible about it. I really Conor and Eric could meet again one day and be happy

@emilydixon7534 Ай бұрын

I've never heard anyone say she was with them at the circus. Also, I've heard from Lory and other that she was checking a fax, and heard the babysitter scream thats when she ran into the room and saw the window and knew. I've also heard, he ran passed the babysitter straight out the window. It should of never been left open with a small child in there. I've heard that Lory told the babysitter not tonleave Conor alone there, now i see why. 18 rooms and actual windows.

@gearyclouthier9008 Ай бұрын

You left out his time spent with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

@herdmentality1894 Ай бұрын

Eric was dating Patties sister when he wrote layla she knew it was about her sister and left him

@raymondfryar1533 3 ай бұрын

Referring to Blind Faith album. Many judged the album by the cover. Kinda like a book.

@kelcritcarroll Ай бұрын

Damn, the mom yaking vare of the little Eric seems alot like John lennons aunt taking care if her sisters son John…..

@TheSavagederek 7 ай бұрын

Have you ever considered covering the death of Metallica bass player Cliff Burton ?

@Sargent1987 7 ай бұрын

How iss there only 37 likes

@frelaaldridge9489 Ай бұрын

She should have been watching her son

@terrymurphy4401 6 ай бұрын

my grandson thinks his mom is his sister and he thinks his grandparents are his parents

@emilydixon7534 Ай бұрын

My half-brother grew up thinking my mom was his sister, and my grandmother was his mom. He died in 2016 from drugs

@terrymurphy4401 28 күн бұрын

@@emilydixon7534 sorry that shouldn't ever have happened did he find out

@markmoriarty7388 7 күн бұрын

I thought this doc was about the death of Clapton's son. There's a lot wrong with this. For example Surrey is a huge pastoral area outside of London, made up of many towns and villages. Ripley was Clapton's hometown. The host of this thing is very attractive; her voice is making my brain boil.

@stevemason5173 2 ай бұрын

This Lory Del Santo sure sounds like a piece of work. She has told so many different stories about the same subject in different interviews. Sounds like a gold digger to me. She is not all that pretty and sounds like she would do or say anything for her 5 minutes of fame. One statement I read was she said Conor darted out the open window, but if there is a counter in front of the window, how could he have run straight out of it?

@stacyhannigan 13 күн бұрын

There wasn't a counter in front of the window. It was a small ledge that Connor stepped up on. The boy was playing hide and seek. He darted past the house keeper and ran into the room where the window was. He stepped up on the ledge with the window open window, and pressed against the open glass, not realizing the window was open...the window was obscured behind a curtain. That's why the child went behind that window to begin with. He was playing hide and seek with the maid. So he went on the ledge behind the curtain where the window was, and fell out...

@herdmentality1894 Ай бұрын

Not a fan of Lori either she clearly baby trapped him but what really disgusted me was when she sold footage of Connors home life years later, saying she wanted honor him but it felt more like exploiting his memory for money. No one deserves to loose their child but Eric handled his lose by creating one of the most beautiful songs about loss. People grieve differently i guess.

@stacyhannigan 13 күн бұрын

Lory never accepted money inexchange for showing Conors videos. After he died, she locked the tapes away for 15 years, they were too painful to watch. If she wanted money, she would have released those tapes a lot sooner....

@kevincognito3575 15 күн бұрын

Was there any paternity test with Connor to see if he really was Eric Clapton's son

@ROOTSMUSICHISTORY 15 күн бұрын

Yes there was !

@kevincognito3575 15 күн бұрын

@@ROOTSMUSICHISTORY Oh wow So I guess no reason to ask what the results were the whole thing is very sad I don't see How he can even play and sing that song without bursting in the tearsIf I ever had any children I lost them I would be inconsolable

@crayoncer Ай бұрын

After seeing this I'm feeling Eminem may have been correct in his assessment.

@lushkarma2012 2 ай бұрын

Very sad subject. But. Some of the facts you talked about are totally different to any other video I've seen on the subject and I found it really hard to follow because of the poor continuity and the waffling on about things that really weren't that relevant. Annoying. Sorry....

@shellbacksclub 5 ай бұрын

How could a kid that threw himself a window of a high rise write so legibly?

@hannejeppesen1809 4 ай бұрын

He didn't throw himself out of the window. Conor was running around the apartment, and unknown to Conor's mother, a window washer had opened the window, Conor apparently just ran through the open window. So tragic.

@user-ph5pd3nh4w 2 ай бұрын

The fact your comment implies the kid was stupid is so fucked up and insensitive

@zarathustra2k23 2 ай бұрын

1 Green Ripley? *Ahem* 1 The Green, Ripley, Surrey. HTH *Read more*

@frelaaldridge9489 Ай бұрын

Please get to the point

@user-gg2zw3mc2l Ай бұрын

Baloney video

@Dana9437 6 күн бұрын

Such a "wooden" and unfeeling commentary.

@juliajanssens8432 2 ай бұрын

In heaven we will know one another. Throughout eternity God will be revealing Himself to us. It is a higher dimension and we will be young again in youthful looking bodies which never age. Connor was an innocent child and therefore he would have gone immediately to heaven. His father, if he repents and recognises God, will also go there when he dies and be reunited with his son.

@Krullmatic Ай бұрын

You're not very good at these histories. This is the third one of these docs I've watched from you, and you get A LOT of details wrong. Edit: See, this is what I'm talking about. The man has had an amazing long career even up to that point. He's had many, many hits, and was really known for his guitar playing! Yet, you say Tears In Heaven is what Clapton is known for? Please find something to document about that you really know. Clearly music isn't your thing.