“I’d like to thank my parents for making it all possible…”

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton with his grandmother Rose Clap, who raised Eric from infancy, in the house he bought her in Surrey, England.

I just managed to convince my grandmother that it was a worthwhile thing to do and when I did finally get the guitar, it didn’t seem that difficult to me. – Eric Clapton

 

Elton John

Elton John (right) with his mother Shelia and stepfather Fred Fairebrother in their London apartment.

When he was four years old, we used to put him to bed in the day and get him up to play at night for parties. – Elton John’s mother

 

David Crosby

David Crosby (right) standing with his father, cinematographer Floyd Crosby (1899-1985) in his father’s house in Ojai, California.

In the last few years we’ve become good friends. He knows I get high. He doesn’t do it and he doesn’t approve of it, but he doesn’t inflict his values on me. – David Crosby on his father.

 

Frank Zappa

American avant garde and rock musician Frank Zappa (1940-1993) poses with his parents Francis Zappa (1905-1973) and Rose Marie Zappa (nee Colimore, 1912-2004) in his home in Los Angeles, California.

The thing that makes me mad about Frank is that his hair is curlier than mine — and blacker. – Frank Zappa’s mother

 

The Jackson Five

The Jackson Five (left to right): Michael, Marlon, Tito, Jermaine, Jackie and their parents Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Jackson at home in Encino, California.

 

Richie Havens

Richie Havens leaning on a xylophone with parents Richard and Mildred in the background in their home in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York.

Richie is the only one of my nine who’s really moved away. I can’t get rid of most of them. – Richie Havens’ mother

 

Joe Cocker

British musician Joe Cocker (born John Robert Cocker) with his mother Marjorie, in Sheffield, England.

Offstage he is cool and withdrawn — a temperamental mixture of Harold Cocker, his civil servant father who preferred gardening to posing with his famous son, and his outgoing, chatty mother. – LIFE Magazine

 

Peter “Ginger” Baker

Rock drummer Peter “Ginger” Baker, ex-Cream, and his mother, Ruby Streatfield.

He would bring people over and they would say, “You realize your son is brilliant,” and I’d say, “Is he? I wish he was a bit more brilliant at keeping his room tidy.” – Ginger Baker’s mother

 

Donovan

Donovan with his parents Donald and Winifred in their home

 

Grace Slick

Singer Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane holding her daughter, China, upside down by the ankles. Her mother, Mrs. Virginia Wing, sits on the sofa.

Grace and I have different sets of moral values but she’s her own person, and we understand each other. – Grace Slick’s mother