Two hours of highlights from the marathon event, Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival 3 will air as part of Great Performances on Monday, June 6 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Watch a preview:

Clapton notes, “The Crossroads Festival is the realization of a dream for me, to gather a group of amazingly talented musicians to perform on one stage,” and adding, “The Crossroads performers are all musicians I admire and respect.” Actor-comedian Bill Murray — host of the second Crossroads Festival in 2007 — returns as MC, and supplies the festival’s nonmusical highlights with his inimitable style.

Great Performances is a production of THIRTEEN for WNET, one of America’s most prolific and respected public media partners.

It’s no surprise a festival named for a Robert Johnson song would include a heavy dose of the blues, and the 2010 edition does not disappoint, with remarkable performances by Sonny Landreth, Gary Clark, Jr., Keb’ Mo’ and Buddy Guy.

The rock contingent is also well represented by ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, the John Mayer Trio, Doyle Bramhall II, the Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, Warren Haynes and Steve Winwood, who teamed with Clapton for several performances including an epic cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile.”

Various styles find a home here too, with Vince Gill’s amazing take on Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally” accompanied by the legendary James Burton and others; and Jeff Beck who performs “Hammerhead” which won the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

Other artists making appearances include: Sheryl Crow, Ronnie Wood, Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang, Joe Bonamassa, Pino Daniele, and Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas.

Song Listing:

“Promise Land” – Sonny Landreth w/Eric Clapton
“Going Down” – Pino Daniele, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph & The Family Band
“Waiting for The Bus” – ZZ Top
“Jesus Just Left Chicago” – ZZ Top
“Bright Lights” – Gary Clark, Jr.
“Our Love Is Fading” – Sheryl Crow w/Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II & Gary Clark Jr,
“Lay Down Sally” – Vince Gill w/Sheryl Crow, Keb’ Mo’, Albert Lee, James Burton & Earl Klugh
“Who Did You Think I Was” – John Mayer Trio
“Midnight in Harlem” – Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band
“Space Captain” – Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band w/Warren Haynes, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas & Chris Stainton
“Five Long Years” – Buddy Guy with Jonny Lang & Ronnie Wood
“Hammerhead” – Jeff Beck
“I Shot the Sheriff” – Eric Clapton
“Had to Cry Today” – Steve Winwood & Eric Clapton
“Voodoo Chile” – Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
“Dear Mr. Fantasy” – Steve Winwood & Eric Clapton

The first Crossroads Guitar Festival, in June 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, an unprecedented collection of guitar icons from blues, rock, and contemporary music, aired on Great Performances in December of that year. The two-disc DVD that has since achieved the 10x platinum mark in the United States alone. The Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007, the second such concert by Clapton and also staged at Toyota Park, aired on Great Performances in November 2007, and its DVD was certified 6x platinum. The complete 2010 concert was released by Rhino Entertainment on Blu-ray and DVD.

A Parallel 28 Equipe Inc. Production, Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival 3 was directed for television by Martin Atkins. Eric Clapton, Peter Jackson, James Pluta and Scooter Weintraub are producers; John Beug and Michael Eaton are executive producers. For Great Performances, Bill O’Donnell is series producer; and David Horn is executive producer.

Major funding for the Great Performances telecast is provided by the Irene Diamond Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, Vivian Milstein, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers.

• Viewing Guide

Time Allotment: 20 minutes

1. Ask the students to define the term “the blues” by brainstorming ideas as a group and recording them on the board/overhead.

2. After all ideas have been listed, share some specific information about blues music by reading and distributing the essay “What Is the Blues?” available at http://www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom/essaysblues.html, and the essay “Chicago Blues,” available at http://www.pbs.org/gperf/shows/crossroads2/essay1.html. Discuss the characteristics of blues music and its origins as well as why Chicago is known as the blues capital. Take time to list some of the key people associated with the blues described in each essay.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

Time Allotment: 30-45 minutes

1. Introduce ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO by explaining to the students that they will be viewing a program that showcases some of the world’s best guitarists performing classic blues selections. Refer them to the essay “Guitar Evolution,” available at http://www.pbs.org/gperf/shows/guitargods/essay1.html to learn more about the history of the guitar and the role it played in blues music and rock ‘n’ roll.

2. Distribute the Viewing Guide and have the students read the directions before they watch the film excerpts. Explain that the goal is for them to see how the blues can be performed in a variety of ways and to compare and contrast the varying styles. (Note to teachers: On the Viewing Guide, performers are listed in order of their appearance in the program. As you preview the program, make notes about the approximate start and end times of each performance to make locating them easier when you play the excerpts.)

3. After the students have watched the program excerpts and completed the Viewing Guide, discuss each of the performances included in it. The students should be able to note specific ways that the performances are alike and different.

CULMINATING ACTIVITIES:

Time Allotment: 20 minutes

1. Based on what they have learned from reading the essays in Step 2 of the Introductory Activities and by watching the program, have the students participate in a final class discussion or generate a short written response to topics such as:

• You have seen examples of traditional blues music as well as the way the blues have been interpreted by modern artists. Discuss the role of the blues in today’s popular music.
• You have learned that the blues is an uniquely American art form and that in the 1960s, it was embraced by European bands and experienced a revival through new sounds brought here by British performers like Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones. Discuss how the electric guitar and guitarists such as Clapton and Jeff Beck helped change the blues.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:

1. Encourage the students to learn more about the history of the blues and to create a multimedia project based on their research, such as an illustrated timeline. They can include pictures of important blues artists and audio clips of their signature songs as part of their presentation.

2. Have the students work in small groups to learn a traditional blues song or write their own blues song using traditional characteristics of the genre, which they can then perform for the class.

ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO brings together guitar legends from blues, country, rock, and pop music in the blues capital, Chicago, in a salute to this American musical tradition.

Time Allotment:
Approximately two 45-minute class periods

Subject Matter:
Music, History, and Language Arts

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Students will:

1. Brainstorm as a group and record what they know about blues music.

2. Research information about the blues and its origins.

3. View excerpts of various blues performances and compare and contrast them in
terms of style and artistry.

4. Discuss or write about how the blues has influenced modern music and how
the electric guitar and guitarists have changed the sound of the blues over time.

Materials:
A copy of GREAT PERFORMANCES’ ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO

Prep for Teachers:
Prior to teaching the lesson, record the broadcast of ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO (check local listings to determine if and when the program will air in your state), review the program for content, bookmark the Web sites used in the lesson on each computer, and download the necessary plug-ins. Print out and make copies of the related handouts: “What Is the Blues?” essay, “Chicago Blues” essay, “Guitar Evolution” essay, and the Viewing Guide.

Bookmark the following sites:

PBS.org: THE BLUES: Blues Classroom: Background Essays: What Is the Blues?
http://www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom/essaysblues.html

PBS.org: THE BLUES: Blues Road Trip: Chicago and Detroit: History and Highlights
http://www.pbs.org/theblues/roadtrip/chi-dethist.html

Grove Music Online
http://www.grovemusic.com

STANDARDS:

Art Connections

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=9&standardID=1

Understands connections among the various art forms and other disciplines.

Music

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=11&standardID=7

Understands the relationship between music and history and culture.

Historical Understanding

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=3&standardID=2

Understands the historical perspective.

Language Arts

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/SubjectTopics.asp?SubjectID=7

Writing
Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.

Reading
Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts.

Listening and Speaking
Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.

Viewing
Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media.

Working with Others

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=22&standardID=4
Displays effective interpersonal communication skills.

Thinking and Reasoning

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=21&standardID=3
Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences.

This lesson was prepared by Lisa Prososki, an independent educational consultant and instructional design specialist who taught middle school and high school social studies, English, reading, and technology courses for 12 years.

Producer: Anu Krishnan
Art Director: Sabina Daley
Graphic Art: Ruiyan Xu
Technical Director: Brian Lee
PHP Scripting: Ben Chappel
Production Assistant: Diana Cofresí-Terrero
Copy Editor: Leslie Kriesel
HTML Implementation Assistance: Brian Santalone

GREAT PERFORMANCES Web pages copyright © 2004 Educational Broadcasting Corporation.

Thirteen Online is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York’s Kravis Multimedia Education Center in New York City. Anthony Chapman, Director of Interactive & Broadband. Bob Adleman, Business Manager. Carmen DiRienzo, Vice President and Managing Director, Corporate Affairs.

About the Writer

Ed Ward started writing about music in 1965, and has been on the staff of CRAWDADDY!, ROLLING STONE, and CREEM magazines, among others. He was music writer for the Austin (Texas) AMERICAN-STATESMAN from 1979-84, and is co-author (with the late Geoffrey Stokes and Ken Tucker) of ROCK OF AGES: THE ROLLING STONE HISTORY OF ROCK & ROLL. Since 1986, he has been rock historian for NPR’s FRESH AIR with Terry Gross. He currently lives in Berlin, and comments on it at http://www.berlinbites.com.

Television Credits

Executive Producers
John Beug
David Horn

Directed by
Ron de Moraes

Produced by
Mona Niemiec
Mitch Owgang

Supervising Audio Engineer
Elliot Scheiner

Lighting Director
Stan Crocker

Editor
Gary Bradley

Associate Producers
Cara Cosentino
Kathy Rivkin

Production Manager
Matt Uzzle

Associate Director
Laura Lyons

Stage Manager
Peter Margolis

Engineer-in-Charge
Mark Schubin

Technical Director
Keith Winikoff

Mixing for Eric Clapton
Simon Climie
Mick Guzauski

Mix Assistant
Tom Bender

Audio Engineers
Ed Cherney
Kooster McAlister
Greg Ondo

Audio Coordinators
David Hewitt
Karen Brinton

Audio
Bob Aldridge
Jackie Brooks
Stan Dacus
Robert Drews
Marshall Fawcett
Peter Gary
Phil Gitomer
Gary Hampton
Denise Houchin
Greg Lankford
Gaff Michael
Robert McLeod
Freddie Robertson
Matt Scheiner
Paul Special

Video Operators
Billy Steinberg
Matty Randazzo

Video Tape
Alan Buchner
Dave Degelia

Lighting Programmer
Rob Smith

Cameras
Miguel Armstrong
Timm Bland
Barbara Drago
Freddy Frederick
Ed Fussell
Pat Gleason
Manny Gutierrez
Ray Hoover
Lyn Noland
Chad Smith
Ron Smith

Key Utility
Anthony Defonzo

Utilities
Frank Bourassa
Aaron Bradshaw
John Heneghan
Mike Joyce
Pat Miller
Paul Patelmo
Brandy Sanders

Video Maintenance
Tom Curran
Jimmy Goldsmith
Andy Lindberg
Nava Tabkum
Greg Vincent
Ian Vysick

Dolly Grip
Billy Broker

Jib Techs
Manny Gutierrez Jr.
Eric Johnson

STEADI Assistant
Mike Gilbert

Additional Editing by
Laura Young

On-Line Editor
Stephen Hoppe

Production Coordinator
Kirsten J. Taylor

Production Secretary
Adam Fels

Production Assistants
James Anglin
Taylor Barber
Joanna McCue Carson
Scott Cox
Brock Cravy
Mark Fisher
Jennifer Ford
David Glynn
Heather Laraine Harris
Shawn Lafferty
Joanne Morris
Adrian Neely
Ryan Smith
Nathan Threadgill

Documentary Unit
Director of Photography
Martin Atkins

Produced by
James Pluta

Artist Interviews
Larry Yelen

Cameras
Juerg Walther
Greg Smith
Norm Johnston

Camera Tech
Michele de Lorimer

Sound Recordist
Michael Hanes
Chris Neely
Michael Thomason

Production Coordinator
Niki Breazeale

Production Assistants
Lauren Mayer Beug
Lindsay Mayer Beug
Michael Ryan
Will Schmidt

Audio Mixing
Engineer
Neil Dorfsman

Audio Post-Production Mixer
Sue Pelino

Audio Mastering
Darcy Proper

Concert
Producers
Eric Clapton
Peter Jackson
Scooter Weintraub

Music Director
Scooter Weintraub

Production Director
Mick Double

Concert Production
David Stallbaumer

Promoters
Clayton Faught
Rick Babb

For GREAT PERFORMANCES
Director of Program Development
Bill O’Donnell

Executive Producer
Jac Venza

A production of Thirteen/WNET New York and Warner Strategic Marketing

© 2004 Educational Broadcasting Corporation and Warner Strategic Marketing

The contents of these GREAT PERFORMANCES Web pages are copyrighted under United States and other copyright laws. You may not download, reproduce, transmit, display, distribute or make derivative works from the contents of the GREAT PERFORMANCES Web pages other than for personal use without the advance written permission of the copyright owner. Any unauthorized use of any of the contents of the GREAT PERFORMANCES Online Web pages may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.

“Layla”
Eric Clapton

“Love in Vain Blues”
Robert Lockwood, Jr.

“Killing Floor”
Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan

“Sweet Home Chicago”
Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan

“Six Strings Down”
Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Jimmie Vaughan

“I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow”
Dan Tyminski with Ron Block

“Steamroller”
James Taylor with Joe Walsh

“Oklahoma Borderline”
Vince Gill with Jerry Douglas

“After Midnight”
J.J. Cale with Eric Clapton

“City Love”
John Mayer

“Rock Me Baby”
Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughan

“Funk 49″
Joe Walsh

“The March”
Robert Randolph & the Family Band

“Jingo”
Carlos Santana with Eric Clapton

“Going Down Slow”
Honeyboy Edwards

“If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day”
Eric Clapton with Doyle Bramhall II and Nathan East

“Time Makes Two”
Robert Cray

“La Grange”
ZZ Top

“Tush”
ZZ Top

“Cocaine”
Eric Clapton

Performers

Eric Clapton

Ron Block

Doyle Bramhall II

J.J. Cale

Robert Cray

Jerry Douglas

Nathan East

Honeyboy Edwards

Vince Gill

Buddy Guy

B.B. King

Robert Lockwood, Jr.

John Mayer

Robert Randolph

Carlos Santana

Hubert Sumlin

James Taylor

Dan Tyminski

Jimmie Vaughan

Joe Walsh

ZZ Top

Proceeds from the extraordinary guitarfest went to support the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation center founded by Eric Clapton in 1997. The festival also offered guitar clinics, exhibits by leading manufacturers, and displays of guitars from the private collections of Clapton and his friends, which were auctioned by Christie’s in June 2004 and garnered more than $7 million to aid the Crossroads Centre.

Visit the Web companions of two other shows that featured Eric Clapton, CREAM REUNION CONCERT (2005) and CONCERT FOR GEORGE (2003).

Special funding for ERIC CLAPTON’S CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL was provided by SBC.

Related Web Sites

• Eric Clapton
• Crossroads Centre
• Radio Smithsonian: Guitar: Electrified, Amplified and Deified
• The Lemelson Center: The Electric Guitar
• NPR.org: Present at the Creation: The Electric Guitar
• PBS.org: The Blues
• PBS.org: American Roots Music