Bobby Whitlock, the co-founder and keyboardist-singer for blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos and who contributed to the albums of such musicians as George Harrison, fellow co-founder Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones, died early Sunday morning on the age of 77, per a number of media stories.
His dying was confirmed to shops by his supervisor Carol Kaye, who stated in an announcement, “With profound disappointment, the household of Bobby Whitlock publicizes his passing at 1:20 a.m. on Aug. 10 after a short sickness. He handed in his residence in Texas, surrounded by household.”
The Memphis-born musician started his profession as an adolescent within the ’60s, befriending acts related to his hometown Stax Data, the influential label behind Southern soul music. He recorded alongside R&B duo Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the M.G.’s, changing into the primary white artist to be singed by the label.
Afterward, Whitlock would go on to hitch husband-wife duo Delaney Bramlett and Bonnie Bramlett in a touring band referred to as Delaney & Bonnie and Buddies, which included musicians like singer-guitarist Clapton, bassist Carl Radle, and drummer Jim Gordon — all of whom would be part of Whitlock in forming Derek and the Dominos.
Although Derek and the Dominos is probably finest recognized for launching Clapton into solo music stardom, Whitlock was a key contributor to the group’s debut and sole studio album launch Layla and Different Assorted Love Songs (1970). The group broke up a 12 months later following the album’s disappointing launch (although lately the undertaking has been reappraised as amongst one of many biggest rock albums), dying of guitarist Duane Allman and Clapton’s substance habit, at which level Whitlock went on to launch a solo profession.
As a session musician, Whitlock’s notable contributions on numerous recordings embody: Harrison’s All Issues Should Cross (1970), Dr. John’s The Solar, Moon & Herbs (1971), Doris Troy’s self-titled 1970 album and an uncredited contribution to the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Principal St. double album (1972).
Whitlock launched two solo albums, a self-titled launch and Uncooked Velvet, each in 1972, adopted by two LPs later within the ’70s earlier than largely leaving the music trade by the tip of the last decade. Within the ’90s, nonetheless, he returned to recording and collaborated typically with spouse and musical accomplice CoCo Carmel. Whitlock and Clapton additionally reunited in 2000 to carry out “Bell Backside Blues” collectively on Later With Jools Holland.
In an announcement to the Los Angeles Instances, Whitlock’s spouse, CoCo Carmel, stated, “How do you categorical in however a number of phrases the grandness of 1 man who got here from abject poverty within the south to heights unimagined in such a short while. My love Bobby checked out life as an journey taking me by the hand main me via a world of wonderment from music to poetry and portray. As he would at all times say: ‘Life is what you make it, so take it and make it lovely.’ And he did.”
