Derek and the Dominos Keyboardist Bobby Whitlock Dies at 77
Breaking News: Bobby Whitlock, a foundational member of the iconic blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos and a highly respected session musician, has died at the age of 77.He passed away at his home in Texas on August 10th following a short illness, according to a statement from his manager, Carole Kaye.
Whitlock’s contributions were instrumental to the success of Derek and the Dominos, especially their landmark 1970 album, “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs,” which propelled Eric Clapton to solo stardom. However,his musical journey extended far beyond that single,defining project.
Born March 18, 1948, in Millington, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, Whitlock overcame a challenging upbringing marked by poverty. He developed his distinctive keyboard and piano style rooted in the rich musical traditions of Southern churches. His early talent led him to frequent Stax Records‘ studios, where his soulful playing quickly garnered attention. He became the first white artist signed to Stax’s HIP imprint, joining a roster that included legendary soul singers like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave.
Whitlock’s career gained momentum when he joined Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, a celebrated rock-soul ensemble that frequently featured collaborations with musical giants such as Duane and Gregg Allman, leon Russell, george Harrison, and Clapton.
Through Delaney & Bonnie, Whitlock toured with Clapton’s band, Blind Faith. Clapton subsequently enlisted Whitlock, alongside bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon, to form Derek and the dominos, initially to support George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass.”
Biographer Harry Shapiro, in “Eric Clapton: Lost in the Blues,” highlighted Whitlock’s crucial role within the group, noting the “empathy” he shared with the other musicians and his emergence as a “sympathetic songwriting partner and back-up vocalist” for Clapton.
Whitlock’s songwriting prowess was a defining element of “Layla,” contributing to or co-writing half of the album’s tracks, including the enduring classics “Bell Bottom Blues” and “Tell the Truth.” The band’s subsequent U.S. tour featured a young Elton John as the opening act, who, as he later wrote in his autobiography, closely studied Whitlock’s playing, admiring his “soulful, deep Southern gospel feel” honed at Stax Studios.
Despite the band’s eventual dissolution due to internal struggles and substance abuse, Whitlock continued a prolific career. He released his self-titled debut solo album in 1972,followed by “Raw Velvet” later that same year. he remained a sought-after session musician, lending his talents to landmark albums like the Rolling Stones’ “Exile on Main St.” and Dr. John’s “The Sun, Moon & Herbs.”
Throughout the 1970s and again in the 1990s, Whitlock consistently released solo material, ofen in collaboration with his wife and musical partner, CoCo Carmel.
Carmel, in a statement, described Whitlock as a man who “came from abject poverty…to heights unimagined” and who approached life as “an adventure.” She recalled his beliefs: “Life is what you make it, so take it and make it lovely,” a sentiment he embodied throughout his life.bobby Whitlock is survived by his wife, CoCo Carmel, and his children, Ashley Faye Brown, Beau Elijah Whitlock, and Tim Whitlock Kelly. His legacy as a gifted musician, songwriter, and integral part of a pivotal moment in rock history will endure.
