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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bobby Whitlock, Co-Founder of Derek and the Dominos, Dies at 77
Bobby Whitlock, the keyboardist, singer-songwriter and co-founder of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, has died at the age of 77. Whitlock passed away early Sunday morning (Aug. 10) at 1:20 a.m. following a brief battle with cancer, his manager Carol Kaye confirmed to Variety. He died at his home in Texas, surrounded by family. More from Billboard Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2025 Art Fein, Cable TV Host & Author, Dies at 79: 'The Ed Sullivan of Public Access TV' Fans Choose Gunna's 'The Last Wun' as This Week's Favorite New Music Whitlock's wife, Coco Carmel Whitlock, honored his extraordinary life 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?' she said. '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.' Born on March 18, 1948, in Memphis, Tenn., Whitlock made history as the first white artist signed to Stax Records when he was still a teenager in the mid-1960s. During his time with the legendary label, he performed alongside soul greats including Booker T. & the MG's and Sam & Dave. In 1968, Whitlock joined Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, a group whose collaborators included future Derek and the Dominos members Eric Clapton, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. During this period, Whitlock also contributed to Clapton's 1970 self-titled debut album and played organ and piano on George Harrison's landmark 1970 release, All Things Must Pass. Later that same year, Clapton, Whitlock, Radle and Gordon formed Derek and the Dominos. Whitlock co-wrote half the tracks on the band's first and only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, including 'Bell Bottom Blues' and 'Tell the Truth.' Derek and the Dominos embarked on a U.S. tour in support of the album, with Elton John serving as their opening act. 'It was their keyboard player Bobby Whitlock that I watched like a hawk,' John wrote in his autobiography, according to the Los Angeles Times. 'He was from Memphis, learned his craft hanging around Stax Studios and played with that soulful, deep Southern gospel feel.' Amid escalating drug use and growing personal tensions within the group, Derek and the Dominos split in 1971 while in the midst of recording their sophomore album. Whitlock went on to release a string of solo albums in the 1970s, beginning with his self-titled debut, which featured contributions from all the members of Derek and the Dominos, as well as Harrison. He followed it later that same year with Raw Velvet. As a session musician, Whitlock also appeared on the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St., Dr. John's The Sun, Moon & Herbs, and Stephen Stills & Manassas' Down the Road. Whitlock released additional solo music throughout the 1970s and returned in the 1990s, often collaborating with his musical partner and future wife, CoCo Carmel, whom he married in December 2005. Whitlock is survived by his wife, CoCo Carmel, and his children Ashley Faye Brown, Beau Elijah Whitlock, and Tim Whitlock Kelly, according to the Los Angeles Times. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Tributes pour in as iconic rock star dies aged 77
He was best known for his work with legendary musicians such as Eric Clapton and George Harrison. Bobby Whitlock, iconic singer-keyboardist and co-founder of 70s blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos alongside Eric Clapton, has died aged 77. His manager, Carol Kaye, confirmed the news to Variety. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 18, 1948, Whitlock was signed to Stax Records at an early age and played with artists like Booker T. and the MG's and Sam & Dave. He later became an integral member of Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, meeting Clapton while his band opened Clapton's supergroup Blind Faith. Following the release of Delaney & Bonnie's live album On Tour with Eric Clapton in 1970, Whitlock was invited to reunite with Clapton on his debut solo album and to accompany George Harrison in the studio for All Things Must Pass. Accompanied by Carl Radle and Jim Gordon, Clapton and Whitlock started Derek and the Dominos as a blues-rock group, releasing their 1971 double LP Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, widely considered to be one of rock's greatest albums. Speaking to Best Classic Bands in 2015, Whitlock commented on the supergroup's early breakup by calling it 'lightning in a bottle'. 'We did one club tour, we did one photo session, then we did a tour of a bit larger venues,' he continued. 'Then we did one studio album in Miami. We did one American tour. Then we did one failed attempt at a second album. 'Everybody was doing entirely too much drugs and alcohol,' he admitted at the time, while also recognising that Drek and the Dominoes were 'the very best band on the planet… We were better than anybody.' Following the band's breakup, Whitlock went on to release a string of studio albums in the 70s, including a self-titled record in 1972, which included all the members of the recently split group. He also made an uncredited appearance on the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street, and has claimed to have been cheated out of a co-writing credit for the song 'I Just Want to See His Face'. He also appeared as a guest musician on self-titled albums by Clapton and Doris Troy, Dr. John's The Sun, Moon & Herbs and Stephen Stills & Manassas' Down the Road. In 2024, Whitlock was awarded a Brass Music Note on Memphis' own Beale Street Walk of Fame for his work.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Derek And The Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock dead at 77
Derek And The Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock has died at the age of 77. The keyboard player formed the Layla group in 1970 alongside Eric Clapton, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. She 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.' The Dominos' only album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, was a commercial flop up on its release in 1970, but became somewhat of a cult classic. Regarded as one of the greatest rock records of all time, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000. Whitlock's manager Carol Kaye, confirmed the sad news of his passing. He came to play with Clapton, Radle and Gordon after joining Delaney and Bonnie And Friends in the '60s. Soul duo Delaney Bramlett and Bonnie Bramlett recruited huge names, including Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, George Harrison, Rita Coolidge, King Curtis and more, for the supergroup. After Derek and The Dominos split in 1971, Whitlock played the organ and piano on tracks on late Beatles star George Harrison's debut solo album All Things Must Pass. Although uncredited, Bobby also played on The Rolling Stones' 1972 LP Exile On Main St. He later claimed he and Mick Taylor were the original co-writers of I Just Want to See His Face from the album. Speaking to writer Bill Janovitz, Whitlock alleged: 'There were two songs I was playing on, one of them was about: (starts singing) 'I don't want to talk about Jesus/I just wanna see his face.'… that happened in Olympic Studios… I was in England.' Whitlock went on to make music with his wife CoCo Carmel, and his final record was their 2012 collection Esoteric. The couple tied the knot on December 24, 2005 and moved to Austin, Texas. The same year they released their last album, the pair renewed their wedding vows in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Kovalam, Kerala. Whitlock is survived by CoCo, his three children, Ashley Brown, Beau Whitlock and Tim Whitlock Kelly, and sister Debbie Wade.
News18
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Bobby Whitlock, Popular Keyboardist And Songwriter, Dies At 77
Last Updated: Bobby Whitlock, keyboardist and songwriter with Derek and the Dominos, died at 77 after battling cancer. Bobby Whitlock, acclaimed keyboardist and songwriter known for his work with Derek and the Dominos alongside Eric Clapton, has died at the age of 77. According to his longtime manager, Carol Kaye, Whitlock passed away early Sunday morning at his home in Texas after battling cancer. He was surrounded by family at the time of his passing. Early years and musical foundations Born on March 18, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee, Whitlock faced a challenging childhood marked by financial difficulties and a tough neighbourhood environment. Despite these hardships, music became a saving grace. Immersed in gospel and soul music as a teenager, Whitlock performed wherever opportunities arose. His talent soon caught the attention of key figures at Stax Records, leading him to collaborate with legendary acts such as Booker T. & the MG's and Sam & Dave. Formation of Derek and the Dominos By the late 1960s, Whitlock had joined Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, a collective featuring prominent musicians. It was here he connected with Eric Clapton, bassist Carl Radle, and drummer Jim Gordon. The four officially came together in 1970 to form Derek and the Dominos. During this period, the band also contributed as backing musicians for George Harrison's acclaimed All Things Must Pass album. Derek and the Dominos released just one studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which has since become iconic in rock history. Whitlock played a significant role in the album, co-writing seven tracks including Bell Bottom Blues and Tell the Truth. The album's title track, Layla, remains one of rock music's most enduring songs. Following the group's dissolution in 1971, Whitlock pursued a solo career, releasing albums such as Bobby Whitlock (1972) and Raw Velvet. Over the years, he collaborated with notable artists including Keith Moon and Dr. John. By the 1980s, Whitlock withdrew somewhat from the mainstream spotlight. His later years In the late 1990s, Whitlock returned to music alongside his wife, singer and producer CoCo Carmel. Together, they performed in intimate venues, toured extensively, and contributed to the Austin music scene. Fans who encountered Whitlock remember him as warm and humorous, yet deeply dedicated to his craft, delivering every lyric with genuine emotion. May his soul rest in peace! Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Los Angeles Times
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- 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.
