Eric Clapton credited the "King of Rock and Roll" as the person who made him the guitarist he is now - but that person was not Elvis Presley.
The music industry often regarded Presley as "the King" of the rock and roll genre due to his sold-out concerts and record-breaking albums and singles. Even decades after his death, he still holds the title amid his continuous popularity.
However, Clapton and other musicians got inspired by another King.
Eric Clapton Named Best Rock and Roll Guitarist
The 78-year-old guitarist spoke of his love for the "greatest rock and roll guitarist" in a documentary and revealed that he would not be a guitarist now if it is not because of other musicians, especially Chuck Berry.
In the flick, "Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock' n' Roll," Clapton said anyone who wants to play Rock and Roll or any upbeat tracks would play like Berry since there is no way to play the genre apart from how the late guitarist did.
"There is a whole mix of things I hear, Latin and country, jazz, the whole thing makes a beautiful hybrid," he said of Berry. "I've heard stories that he was very bitter and he thought people have ripped him off, and in order to think that, you must be aware of how far your influence has spread."
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Even other musicians believed Berry was the original King of Rock and Roll. Aside from Clapton, John Lennon famously said rock and roll's other name would be "Chuck Berry."
Who Is The Real King or Rock and Roll?
Multiple news outlets often create a comparison between Presley and Berry to "determine" who the real King of Rock and Roll is.
Rock Celebrities noted that Berry should have the title as he is the "Father of Rock and Roll" who created the genre. Meanwhile, Associated Press called his contributions "incalculable," which other musicians witnessed as they promote their own music.
The Rolling Stones, Carl Perkins, Bryan Adams, David Bowie, The Yardbirds, Buddy Holly, and The Kinks, to name a few, covered most of Berry's songs and cited him as their major influence even after his death.
The guitarist died at the age of 90 in 2017 due to natural causes.
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