Legendary keyboardist and co-founder of Derek and the Dominos, Bobby Whitlock, has died at the age of 77. According to his manager Carol Kaye, Whitlock passed away on August 10 after a brief illness in his home in Texas.
Whitlock’s career spanned over five decades, starting at Stax Records in the mid-Sixties. He played alongside notable artists such as Booker T & The M.G.’s and Sam & Dave before joining Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett and other talented musicians to form Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. Whitlock later formed Derek and the Dominos with Eric Clapton, guitarist Duane Allman, bassist Carl Radle, and drummer Jim Gordon.
Whitlock contributed significantly to Derek and the Dominos’ 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, co-writing half of the songs and playing piano on the classic track “Layla.” The album has since been named one of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Whitlock also released solo albums throughout his career, including Raw Velvet in 1972.
In recent years, Whitlock returned to recording with his wife CoCo Carmel, and he reunited with Eric Clapton in 2000 for a performance of “Bell Bottom Blues” on Later With Jools Holland.
Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bobby-whitlock-derek-and-the-dominos-keyboardist-dead-obit-1235404691