Eric Clapton's "I Shot The Sheriff" Marks 50th Anniversary Tomorrow

This Saturday, May 11th, marks the 50th anniversary of Eric Clapton recording his cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" at Criteria Studios in Miami in 1974.

Clapton says it was his rhythm guitarist at the time, George Terry, who turned him on to Marley.

In his memoir, Clapton: The Autobiography, he writes, "I tried to ask [Marley] what the song was all about, but couldn't understand much of his reply. I was just relieved that he liked what we had done."

Two other people who liked it were record executives Ahmet Ertegun from Atlantic Records and Robert Stigwood from RSO Records who were working with Clapton at the time.

"I Shot the Sheriff" remains Clapton's only number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100.


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