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Eric Clapton Says Prince Inspired Song 'Holy Mother,' Calls Icon A 'Light In The Darkness'

LOS ANGELES (CBSNewYork/AP)-- Eric Clapton is sharing his grief over Prince's death, calling him "a true genius.''

In a Facebook post Saturday, Clapton also tells how the artist inspired him to write the song "Holy Mother.''

"I'm so sad about the death of Prince, he was a true genius, and a huge inspiration for me, in a very real way.... In...

Posted by Eric Clapton on Saturday, April 23, 2016

Clapton recalled a period in the 1980s when he was on the road and caught in what he called a "downward spiral with drink and drugs.''

Then he saw Prince's "Purple Rain'' in a Canadian movie theater and, Clapton said, it hit him like a bolt of lightning. The musician said he went back to his hotel, amid empty beer cans, and wrote "Holy Mother.''

Clapton wrote on Facebook that he can't believe Prince is gone.

The 57-year-old Prince was found dead Thursday in his suburban Minneapolis home, with the cause of death unknown.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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