Clapton's Hall of Fame honour

Slowhand: Clapton's solo career has spanned three decades

Guitar legend Eric Clapton has been inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for an unprecedented third time.

The 54-year old joined the US music industry's elite as a solo artist for the first time at the star-studded ceremony at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Diana Ross sang a tribute to Billie Holiday

He's already been inducted twice before as a member of the bands Cream and The Yardbirds.

His solo hits have spanned three decades, from After Midnight and Wonderful Tonight in the 1970s to the Grammy-winning Tears In Heaven and Change the World in the 1990s.

"For me, it's about the music, said Clapton. "I'm just the messenger, and I hope to do it as long as I live."

Clapton on acoustic guitar then played Tears In Heaven - the mournful tribute to his late son, Connor - followed by a duet on electric guitar with the Band's Robbie Robertson, Further On Up The Road.

Other inductees

His fellow inductees at the ceremony included blues rocker Bonnie Raitt, Earth, Wind and Fire, sixties hit-makers The Lovin' Spoonful and doo-wop pioneers The Moonglows.

Honoured: James Taylor is introduced by Sir Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney made a surprise appearance to introduce another inductee, James Taylor - one of the first artists to be signed to The Beatles' Apple record label in the late 1960s.

"I love him. He's a really beautiful guy," said McCartney, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year. "We had a lot of really good times back then, I think."

Earth, Wind and Fire's Maurice White, who last week revealed his battle with Parkinson's disease, made a rare appearance performing with the band he founded.

Reunion

He said: "It's been a long road, but it's been a beautiful road."

Maurice and Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire

The band's original members then performed together for the first time in 20 years, playing many of their hits including Shining Star and That's The Way Of The World.

For the first time, the Hall of Fame paid tribute to noted musical side men and session players.

Scotty Moore, guitarist for Elvis Presley, drummer Hal Blaine, who played with the Ronettes and the Beach Boys, and James Jamerson, legendary Motown bassist whose distinct sound can be heard on My Girl and I Heard It Through The Grapevine, were among those honoured.

Inductees are featured in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland, Ohio, which exists to "preserve, exhibit and interpret the living heritage of rock and roll".