Bobby Whitlock, the keyboardist in Eric Clapton’s Derek And The Dominos, has died at the age of 77.
The news was confirmed on Sunday (August 10) by his manager Carol Kaye, who told ABC Audio: “With profound sadness, the family of Bobby Whitlock announced his passing at 1:20am on Aug. 10 after a brief illness. He passed in his home in Texas, surrounded by family.”
He was a founding member of Derek And The Dominos in 1970 alongside Clapton, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. Whitlock went on to be a co-writer on seven of the tracks on the group’s classic debut album ‘Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs’, including ‘Bell Bottom Blues’ and ‘Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?’
Whitlock was a prolific musician throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, getting his start with Stax Records in his hometown of Memphis. He became the first white artist signed to the label and played on records by Booker T & The M.G.s and Sam & Dave.
He went on to join Delaney & Bonnie And Friends in the late-’60s, where he played regularly with Clapton, Radle and Gordon for the first time.
Derek & The Dominos split during the making of their second studio album in 1971, but Whitlock appeared on George Harrison’s debut solo album ‘All Things Must Pass’, contributing organ and piano to classic tracks including ‘My Sweet Lord’ and ‘What Is Life’.
He was an uncredited contributor to The Rolling Stones’ ‘Exile On Main St’ in 1972, and released a string of solo albums throughout the ‘70s, before leaving the music industry at the end of the decade.
He made a return in 1999 with the solo album ‘It’s About Time’ and began recording alongside his wife CoCo Carmel. His final studio record was 2012’s ‘Esoteric’, a joint recording with Carmel.
Watch footage of Whitlock taking lead vocals on ‘Bell Bottom Blues’ alongside Clapton on Later..with Jools Holland in 2000 above.
He was inducted into the Beale Street Walk Of Fame in Memphis last year, and is survived by Carmel and his three children, Ashley Brown, Beau Whitlock and Tim Whitlock Kelly.
