Bobby Whitlock, who co-founded the blues rock band Derek and the Dominos, has died. He was 77.
The musician passed away at home in Texas while surrounded by his family, Kaye confirmed.
Bobby Whitlock smiles at home while sitting at the piano. Getty ImagesWhitlock’s wife, CoCo Carmel Whitlock, said in a statement to TMZ: “How do you express in but a few words the grandness of one man who came from abject poverty in the south to heights unimagined in such a short time?”
Jools Holland with Bobby Whitlock and Eric Clapton. Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
“My love Bobby looked at life as an adventure taking me by the hand leading me through a world of wonderment from music to poetry and painting,” she continued. “I feel his hands that were so intensely expressive and warm on my face and the small of my back whenever I close my eyes, he is there.”
Bobby Whitlock with his wife, CoCo Carmel Whitlock. Bobby Whitlock/InstagramBorn on March 18, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee, Whitlock’s career began with Memphis soul acts including Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the M.G.’s.
In 1968, he joined Delaney & Bonnie, whose members at different times included his future Derek and the Dominos bandmates Eric Clapton, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon.
Bobby Whitlock in 1975. Getty ImagesDerek and the Dominos was founded in 1970 by Whitlock, Calpton, Radle and Gordon. They came together as a group while recording their involvement in George Harrison’s album “All Things Must Pass.”
The band only put out one studio album, “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.” The title track, “Layla,” is often considered Clapton’s greatest musical achievement in his career.
Derek and the Dominos also went on tour in 1970 and had Elton John as their opening act.
Bobby Whitlock on BBC’s “Later With Jools Holland” in 2000. Andre Csillag/ShutterstockWhitlock opened up about the day the band broke up in a 2017 interview, recalling that Clapton and Gordon “were kind of having kind of a war and we were all doing too much alcohol and drugs.”
As a solo artist, Whitlock out multiple albums including some with his wife, who he married in December 2005. The couple moved to Austin, Texas, in 2006.
Bobby Whitlock playing the piano. Getty ImagesIn 2010, Whitlock released “Bobby Whitlock: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Autobiography” with a foreword by Clapton.
He was inducted into Memphis’ Beale Street Walk of Fame in 2024.
In the final years of his life, Whitlock got into painting and posted his artwork on Instagram.
Whitlock is survived by his wife, his children Ashley Brown, Beau Whitlock and Tim Whitlock Kelly, and his sister Debbie Wade
