I’ve previously posted on this page about my encounter with David Bowie when I worked at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia back in the 1990’s.
Well, I’ve also had a brief encounter with an even bigger British rock icon that, due to his unassuming nature, I’d almost forgotten about. The year was 1992 and the British rocker was Eric Clapton. Here’s what happened.
I was working in the lobby when, to my astonishment, without any fanfare, in walks one mister Eric Clapton-all alone. Dressed in jeans and a tweed sport jacket. Looking more like a college professor than rock and roll royalty.
Unaccompanied by anyone. No management, security, family, or friends. He proceeds to the front desk and checks in on his own. Just like a regular guest.
After a few moments, the front desk agent signals to me that everything is in order and asks me to escort Mr. Clapton to his room.
I remember this being a slow morning at the hotel. At this moment, it was virtually empty except for one man who had been sitting by himself at a table in the middle of the lobby nursing a cup of tea for a couple of hours.
This lone teetotaler just happened to have picked a seat that was both, positioned just adjacent to the bank of elevators that lead to the guests rooms, and also had a direct line of sight to the front desk.
As we approached the elevators the man jumps up from his seat and approaches the rock legend, pulls out a small camera, and quietly asks for permission to take a picture.
This was a major breach of protocol. Celebrities came to our hotel to have privacy. Not to be harassed by amateur paparazzi. So I quietly put my arm up and stepped in front of the lobby intruder and said “no pictures”.
At this moment I just remember Mr. Clapton quietly saying “no, no. It’s alright”. The man then proceeded to mumble a few words, hold up his camera for what seemed like an eternity and finally take what we would today call a “selfie”. I then finished escorting Mr. Clapton to his room and returned to the lobby.
Later that same day while I’m checking in another guest, Mr. Clapton returns to the lobby, again by himself and takes the elevator down to the street level. The guest that I’m checking in looks at him, and then does a sharp double take.
He then leans over to me and almost in a whisper says “hey, that guy looks a lot like Eric Clapton!” “Yes, I suppose he does” I replied.
Over the years, I encountered many celebrities while working at that hotel. None as gracious as Eric Clapton was that day . In addition to his amazing artistry, this memory is yet another reason I’ll always think fondly of him.
