Bobby Whitlock, who is perhaps best-known as an integral member of Eric Clapton’s short-lived 1970s band Derek and the Dominos, died in the early morning hours on Sunday, August 10. He was 77.
Whitlock’s manager, Carol Kaye, issued the following statement: “With profound sadness, the family of Bobby Whitlock announces his passing at [1:20 a.m.] on Aug. 10 after a brief illness. He passed in his home in Texas, surrounded by family.”
The talented Memphis, Tennessee-born singer, keyboardist, guitarist, and songwriter died after a short battle with cancer. During his long career, Bobby was an in-demand session musician, while also playing in a number of bands and recording a series of solo albums. Since the early 2000s, he performed and recorded as a duo with his wife, CoCo Carmel Whitlock.
A couple of main highlights of Whitlock’s career are his contributions Derek and the Dominos’ sole studio effort, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, and to George Harrison’s classic triple album All Things Must Pass, both of which were released in 1970.
More About Whitlock’s Life and Career
Whitlock began his musical career as a teenager, playing sessions at the famed Stax Records studio in Memphis. Among the artists he recorded with were Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the M.G.’s. In addition, when he was just 16, he became the first white artist to sign a contract with Stax.
In 1968, he joined the group Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, which is how he met Clapton. Through his association with Clapton, he wound up contributing keyboards and backing vocals to Harrison’s All Things Must Pass.
That same year, Whitlock joined Derek and the Dominos. He is credited with writing or co-writing seven of the 14 songs on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Among them are “Bell Bottom Blues” and “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?”
Whitlock also contributed to Clapton’s 1970 self-titled solo album and The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street, as well as recording with Dr. John, Manassas, and others.
Whitlock’s self-titled debut solo album was released in 1972. It included appearances by Clapton, Harrison, and Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Bobby released a follow-up album later in 1972 called Raw Velvet that also featured Clapton and Harrison.
Whitlock and Carmel married in 2005. Their first studio album as a duo, Lovers, was released in 2008. It included a guest appearance by Willie Nelson. Bobby’s last solo studio album, My Time, was released in 2009.
During his final years, Whitlock became a prolific painter.
In May 2024, he was inducted into the Beale Street Walk of Fame in Memphis. The ceremony featured the unveiling of a brass musical-note marker with Whitlock’s name on it.
Other Beale Street Walk of Fame inductees include Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Al Green, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and Sam & Dave.
A Heartfelt Statement from Bobby’s Wife, CoCo
CoCo has issued an emotional statement about her husband following his passing.
“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,” she wrote. “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. 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.”
She continued, “As he would always say: ‘Life is what you make it, so take it and make it beautiful.’ And he did. It was easy to love Bobby because he loved me first. Farewell my Love, I’ll see you in my dreams.”
(Photo by CoCo Carmel Whitlock)