R.I.P.: Bobby Whitlock, Co-Founder Derek & the Dominos

Bobby Whitlock, the co-founder, keyboardist, and vocalist of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, passed away at the age of 77 Suinday, at his home in Texas. 

His manager, Carol Kaye, confirmed that he died at 1:20 a.m. following a brief battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones. 

Bobby Whitlock ('48-'25)

Whitlock was a pivotal figure in rock music, contributing significantly to Derek and the Dominos’ iconic 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, where he co-wrote seven tracks, including “Bell Bottom Blues” and “Tell the Truth.” He also played on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass and made uncredited contributions to The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street.

Whitlock collaborated with Eric Clapton on the majority of the album's original songs and he was Clapton's primary musical partner during the creation of "Layla", bringing his keyboard skills and vocal abilities to the project. 

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 18, 1948, Whitlock began his career at Stax Records as a teenager, becoming the label’s first white artist and working with legends like Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the M.G.’s. His collaboration with Delaney & Bonnie and Friends led to connections with Eric Clapton and George Harrison, culminating in the formation of Derek and the Dominos. 

After the band’s breakup in 1971, Whitlock released solo albums, including Bobby Whitlock (1972) and Raw Velvet (1972), and later pursued painting, creating over 1,800 pieces since 2018. He was inducted into Memphis’ Beale Street Walk of Fame in 2024.Tributes highlighted his soulful musicianship and creative legacy. 

His wife, CoCo Carmel Whitlock, described his journey from “abject poverty in the south to heights unimagined” and shared his mantra: “Life is what you make it, so take it and make it beautiful.” Whitlock is survived by his wife, sister Debbie Wade, and children Ashley Brown, Beau Whitlock, and Tim Whitlock Kelly.