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Southern Wit: Song parody competition finals coming to SUSLA on Feb. 4

Southern Wit: Song parody competition finals coming to SUSLA on Feb. 4

Yahoo29-01-2025
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The finalists of a competition that rewards witty, Southern song parodies will perform live in Shreveport on Feb. 4.
The Southern Wit Song Parody Competition finals will take place in the Jackson Auditorium at Southern University Shreveport. The competition showcases vocalists, performers, and lyricists of all ages.
The first-place winner will receive $1000, the second-place winner will receive $500, and the third-place runner-up will receive $250.
An example of a witty song parody is changing Mary J. Blige's 'I'm Goin' Down' to 'I'm Dating a Clown.'
Jessica Barton is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She said the competition is a chance to celebrate creativity and self-expression.
'It's a chance for people to express their unique ideas and have fun,' said Barton.
Judges include radio personality Nina Montgomery, singer Renee 'Sweet Nay' Caldwell, and Sonya Hester, SUSLA associate professor.
The event will be hosted by SUSLA's Shannon Levingston, also known as DJ Mercedes.
Southern Wit is a collaboration between the Beta Beta Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and HARK, a nonprofit that celebrates ArkLaTex history and heritage.
Southern Wit is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
Admission to the event is free.
To learn more about Southern Wit, email info@SouthernWit.org
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Bobby Whitlock, rock singer and Derek and the Dominos keyboardist, dies at 77
Bobby Whitlock, rock singer and Derek and the Dominos keyboardist, dies at 77

USA Today

time10 hours ago

  • USA Today

Bobby Whitlock, rock singer and Derek and the Dominos keyboardist, dies at 77

Singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Bobby Whitlock, best known as the keyboardist for Eric Clapton's blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, has died. He was 77. Whitlock died early Sunday morning, Aug. 10, following a battle with cancer, Whitlock's representative Carol Kaye confirmed to USA TODAY. The rock musician was "surrounded by his family" at the time of his death. Clapton paid tribute to Whitlock in a Facebook post, which featured a photo of Whitlock posing beside a keyboard. "Our dear friend Bobby Whitlock has passed away at 77," Clapton wrote. "Our sincere condolences to Bobby's wife CoCo and his family on this sad day…. RIP Bobby xxx" Whitlock, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, had a rich musical upbringing that would later inform his soulful sound as a recording artist. As a child growing up in poverty, Whitlock was exposed to soul music while working in the fields. "They'd be singing, calling for me, 'Hey, little water boy, bring me a drink of water,'" Whitlock reflected in a March 2012 interview with journalist Stephen K. Peeples. "And my dad, he always chose some fallen-down church out in the middle of the cotton or bean field somewhere, and gospel singing was always in the house, and it was always around." In his teen years, Whitlock became friends with several acts signed to the hometown label Stax Records, a record company that became pivotal in the Southern soul genre. During this time, the budding musician befriended the likes of Albert King, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers and Booker T. & the M.G.'s. He later became the first white artist signed to the racially integrated label, which was an outlier amid racial tensions in the southern United States. "Herman's Hermits and the British Invasion was the big thing that was taking place," Whitlock told Riveting Riffs Magazine in a September 2012 interview. "Stax wanted to cash in on that with their view of what was white pop stuff, which certainly was not what I was doing. It turned out to be bubblegum garbage music that they recorded with me." Bobby Whitlock honed songwriting skills with Eric Clapton, George Harrison Whitlock formed a musical kinship with soul-rock singer-songwriters Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, who comprised the husband-and-wife duo Delaney & Bonnie. The Bramletts discovered Whitlock at a club performance and subsequently invited him to join their soul-revue band. "That was a really beautiful, creative era," Whitlock reflected in his interview with Stephen K. Peeples. "All that music was so organic. No one had to try to do anything, to try to make anything happen, because it was just happening without any effort. All you had to do was just kind of fit yourself in that slot where you belonged, and listen up, pretty much." Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett formed the ensemble Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, which gave Whitlock a master class thanks to an all-star rotating lineup that included Clapton, Beatles guitarist George Harrison, Rita Coolidge and Allman Brothers Band members Duane and Gregg Allman. "I'm probably the only person in the world that actually had hands-on guitar instructions from Eric Clapton and Duane Allman and Delaney Bramlett and George Harrison, that's for sure. Where they'd say, 'No, Bobby, put your hands here, it goes like this,' " he recalled to Peeples. He added: "When Eric and I started writing songs together, that's when I was just really just beginning to start playing guitar effectively, as a tool to write songs, rather than something that I expressed how I was feeling. I didn't know but like three chords, and there I was, sitting with Eric Clapton, and my first song we wrote was 'I Looked Away.' " "I Looked Away" would later become the opening track to Derek and the Dominos' first (and only) studio album, 1970's "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs." The gold-certified album spawned the hard rock classic "Layla," which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's lyrics were inspired, in part, by Clapton's secret attraction to Harrison's then-wife Pattie Boyd. Bobby Whitlock launches solo career after Derek and the Dominos Despite plans for a second album, Derek and the Dominos broke up in 1971. Duane Allman, who played guitar with the band, died in October of that year in a motorcycle crash, while Clapton struggled with mental health and drug addiction issues. "We were a make-believe band. We were all hiding inside it," Clapton said in 1985, per Far Out Magazine. "So, it couldn't last. I had to come out and admit that I was being me. I mean, being Derek was a cover for the fact that I was trying to steal someone else's wife. That was one of the reasons for doing it, so that I could write the song, and even use another name for Pattie. So, Derek and Layla — it wasn't real at all." Whitlock released his self-titled debut album in March 1972. The album featured contributions from Whitlock's former bandmate Clapton, as well as Harrison and Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Whitlock quickly followed up his solo debut with his sophomore album, "Raw Velvet," in November 1972. Similar to his first album, the record featured appearances from Clapton and Harrison. The soulful rocker released two more albums, 1975's "One of a Kind" and 1976's "Rock Your Sox Off," before taking a yearslong hiatus from the music industry. Whitlock moved to a farm in Mississippi and did the occasional studio session work while raising his two children, Ashley Faye and Beau Elijah. "It wasn't hard to stop because there was nothing going on in music," Whitlock told The Austin Chronicle in December 2006. He jokingly added: "You know I'm indirectly responsible for disco? (Clapton's manger) Robert Stigwood took the Dominos' money, used it to create RSO Records and record the Bee Gees. My deepest apologies to the entire music world." Whitlock returned in 1999 with the album "It's About Time." In December 2005, the rock veteran married musician CoCo Carmel. The two collaborated on several albums throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, including 2008's "Lovers."

Bobby Whitlock, Derek and the Dominos founder and solo artist, dead at 77
Bobby Whitlock, Derek and the Dominos founder and solo artist, dead at 77

Los Angeles Times

time12 hours ago

  • Los Angeles Times

Bobby Whitlock, Derek and the Dominos founder and solo artist, dead at 77

Bobby Whitlock, the keyboardist, singer-songwriter and co-founder of the blues-rock group Derek and the Dominos, has died. He was 77. In a statement, his manager, Carole Kaye, said, '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.' Although Derek and the Dominos is perhaps best known for launching singer and guitarist Eric Clapton into solo superstardom, Whitlock was a key contributor to the group's 1970 debut 'Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs,' and an influential session musician and singer-songwriter in his own right. Whitlock was born March 18, 1948, into a poverty-stricken early life in Millington, Tenn., a suburb of Memphis. His keyboard and piano skills, formed around Southern church traditions, led him to eavesdropping on sessions at Stax Records' studios, which took notice of his uncommonly soulful musicianship. Stax Records signed him to its new pop-focused imprint HIP — he was the first white artist to join singers like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave at the label group. His major breakthrough came when he was asked to join Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, an acclaimed rock-soul combo whose collaborators included generationally important artists like Duane and Gregg Allman, Leon Russell, George Harrison and Clapton. Delaney & Bonnie and Friends took Whitlock on tour with Clapton's supergroup, Blind Faith, and Clapton used much of that band's lineup to record his 1970 solo debut. He later asked Whitlock to join him in a new combo (with bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon), assembled to back Harrison on 'All Things Must Pass,' which became Derek and the Dominos. 'The empathy amongst all the musicians outcropped most noticeably in Bobby Whitlock, in whom Eric found an accomplished and sympathetic songwriting partner and back-up vocalist,' Clapton biographer Harry Shapiro wrote in 'Eric Clapton: Lost in the Blues.' On 'Layla,' the group's sole studio LP, Whitlock wrote or co-wrote half of the album's songs, including 'Bell Bottom Blues' and 'Tell the Truth.' A U.S. tour featured opener Elton John, who wrote in his autobiography that, among the Dominos, 'it was their keyboard player Bobby Whitlock that I watched like a hawk. He was from Memphis, learned his craft hanging around Stax Studios and played with that soulful, deep Southern gospel feel.' While the band's drug use and personal tensions eventually led to a split, Whitlock released his self-titled solo debut in 1972 and 'Raw Velvet,' a follow-up that same year. As a session musician, he played on the Rolling Stones' 'Exile on Main St.' and Dr. John's 'The Sun, Moon & Herbs.' He continued releasing solo material through the '70s, returning in the '90s and often collaborating with his wife and musical partner CoCo Carmel. '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,' Carmel said in a statement to The Times. '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. As he would always say: 'Life is what you make it, so take it and make it beautiful.' And he did.' Whitlock is survived by his wife and children Ashley Faye Brown, Beau Elijah Whitlock and Tim Whitlock Kelly.

Bobby Whitlock passes away at 77: A look back at his life and career
Bobby Whitlock passes away at 77: A look back at his life and career

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On August 10, 2025, the music world mourned the loss of Bobby Whitlock, who passed away at 77 in his Texas home after a brief illness, as confirmed by his manager, Carol Kaye. Best known as a co-founder of Derek and the Dominos, Whitlock's soulful contributions as a pianist, guitarist, singer, and songwriter left an enduring mark on rock and soul music. This article reflects on his remarkable career, from his Memphis roots to his work on iconic albums like Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs . Memphis Beginnings and Stax Records Born on March 18, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee, Bobby Whitlock grew up steeped in the city's vibrant soul and blues scene. As a teenager, he became the first white artist signed to Stax Records, a label synonymous with soul music. At Stax, Whitlock honed his craft, playing organ and contributing handclaps to Sam & Dave's 1967 hit 'I Thank You.' His early exposure to legends like Steve Cropper and Booker T. Jones shaped his distinctive, gospel-infused style. Whitlock's raw talent and Southern roots—his family background included 'River Rats, Moonshiners, Whores, and a Southern Baptist preacher' father—gave him a unique musical authenticity. Joining Delaney & Bonnie and Meeting Clapton In 1968, Whitlock joined Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, a soul-revue band where he played keyboards and sang. His dynamic performances caught the eye of Eric Clapton, who joined the band as a guest guitarist. Clapton later praised Whitlock's energy, noting he was 'the most energetic sideman I had ever seen.' This collaboration led to Whitlock's involvement in sessions for Doris Troy's 1970 Apple Records album and a performance at John Lennon's 'Peace for Christmas' concert. These experiences connected him with George Harrison, setting the stage for his most iconic contributions. Derek and the Dominos: A Rock Masterpiece In 1970, Whitlock co-founded Derek and the Dominos with Eric Clapton, bassist Carl Radle, and drummer Jim Gordon. Their only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970), is a rock classic. Whitlock co-wrote seven tracks, including 'Bell Bottom Blues' and 'Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?' His soulful vocals, often duetting with Clapton, and his Hammond organ work added depth to the album's blues-rock sound. The album, driven by Clapton's unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, was a critical success but initially a commercial disappointment. Tragically, drug use and personal conflicts led to the band's breakup in 1971. Whitlock later recalled, 'We scored an enormous amount of drugs… that was the beginning of the end.' Iconic Collaborations: Harrison and The Rolling Stones Whitlock's talents extended beyond Derek and the Dominos. He played keyboards, piano, and tubular bells on George Harrison's 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass , contributing to tracks like 'Beware of Darkness.' He described these sessions as 'spectacular.' In 1972, he added uncredited keyboard work to The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street , further showcasing his versatility. Whitlock also collaborated with artists like Dr. John and Manassas, solidifying his reputation as a sought-after session musician. Solo Work and Artistic Evolution Whitlock released solo albums in the 1970s, including Bobby Whitlock and Raw Velvet (both 1972), featuring Clapton and Rick Vito. After a quieter period in the 1980s and 1990s, he returned with It's About Time (1999) and later collaborated with his wife, CoCo Carmel, on albums like Other Assorted Love Songs, Live from Whitney Chapel (2003). In his later years, Whitlock embraced painting, creating over 1,800 pieces since 2018, reflecting his emotional depth. In 2024, he was inducted into Memphis' Beale Street Walk of Fame, honoring his musical legacy. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at

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