lyrics for music
Clapton's girl ready to take centre stage
Daughter of legendary rock guitarist to make her starring performance
debut at Yorkshire venue
Making
music: Above, Ruth Clapton and Ross Cameron are in concert together for the
first time in Doncaster in December. Below left, Ruth pictured with her rock
star father Eric Clapton at Birkdale School, Sheffield.
Lucy Harvey found at yorkshiretoday.co.uk
RUTH Clapton is the first to admit that having a dad as famous as Eric has
its advantages.
The 21-year-old has travelled the world, met some of her musical heroes and
even sung backing vocals in New York's Madison Square Garden.
But being the daughter of one of the world's greatest guitarists also has its
drawbacks.
She has been bullied, followed by paparazzi photographers and has always felt
too afraid to fulfil her own musical ambitions for fear of comparisons with
her father.
Until now.
After teaming up with guitarist Ross Cameron, Ruth has finally gathered
courage to put some of her hundreds of song lyrics to music and on December 17
the pair will perform in public for the first time at The Priory in Doncaster.
She said yesterday: "I'm really nervous. It will be the first time anyone
has heard me sing like that. I sung backing vocals for my dad in Madison
Square Garden before but that was so different. I was singing his stuff and I
wasn't centre stage.
"Almost everyone I know is going to be there. My dad won't be, because he
is in the middle of a world tour but all my friends will and my mum. She'll
probably be in the front row."
Ruth's mother, Yvonne, met Eric Clapton in the Caribbean in the early 1980s
when she worked as a sound assistant at Air studios.
Although Ruth was born in Doncaster her mother moved backed to Montserrat in
the Caribbean when she was just a month old and they stayed for eight years.
On their return to South Yorkshire, Ruth went to St Mary's School in Bawtry
Road and later studied A-levels at Birkdale School in Sheffield, where in 2003
her father performed a fundraising concert for pupils, parents and staff.
At 18, knowing she didn't want to go to university, Ruth studied hairdressing
at Vidal Sassoon in London, and spent time as a salon receptionist and mobile
hairdresser in Doncaster. She is now a part-time stylist at Ginger, in Silver
Way.
Although her parents had split up by the time she was born, Ruth has always
felt close to her father and says they are quite alike.
But she also says his status as a musician has proved intimidating.
"I have always wanted to do music but I was frightened. It is quite
nerve-wracking, especially with my dad being who he is," said Ruth, who
lives in Bessacar with her boyfriend of two years, Derek Charnley, a
21-year-old community football coach for Doncaster Rovers.
"I have been writing songs since I was 13 but I have not wanted to step
out and do it until now.
"I have decided to do it now because at 21 I'm not getting any younger
and if I don't do it soon I'm going to miss the boat. I can't stand it when
when people don't push themselves to do something because they are
frightened."
She added: "Having someone by my side has made a big difference and Ross
is being a great musical companion. When we first started I couldn't sing in
front of him for four weeks. I think it was just the absolute fear factor of
letting someone else hear me.
"But he has been really supportive and that's made a real difference. I
feel confident now."
Ruth has known Ross for three years but it was only two months ago, when a
mutual friend pointed out that she wrote lyrics and he wrote music, that they
started working together.
Ross, who works in Doncaster men's clothes shop Homeboy, started playing the
guitar when he was 13 and quickly built up a large repertoire including
Clapton classics.
He has already experienced some musical success with his band The Kiks, who
performed on the unsigned stage at last year's Leeds Festival, and earlier
this year received a positive response to a demonstration tape he sent to
record label EMI.
Ross said: "I am putting music to Ruth's lyrics and people think its
brilliant. It really seems to have kicked off.
"We have gone for a Bob Dylan folk style and people say it sounds
great."
Their debut performance will include their favourite track An Empty Heart
Shows, which Ruth wrote during her time in London, six other original tracks
and a cover of a Christmas classic.
Ruth said: " I don't care about being famous, I could have done that
years ago. I don't want it to be like that. I want it to be about the music
and as long as someone likes it, even if it is just one person, I will be
happy."
14 November 2006