Obituary Notice

Memphis born musician Bobby Whitlock played with Derek And The Dominos, Eric Clapton and George Harrison and has died at 77.

Derek And The Dominos keyboard player Bobby Whitlock dead at 77

Bobby Whitlock, the keyboard player and guitarist who performed with Derek And The Dominos, Eric Clapton and George Harrison, has died at the age of 77. The death was confirmed by his manager in a statement, noting he died at 1.20 am on August 10 at his home in Texas after a brief illness. Whitlock was born in Memphis in 1948 and began his career at Stax Studios, where he observed sessions by the house band and became the first white artist signed to the label. After playing with local soul groups Short Cuts and The Count, he joined Delaney and Bonnie, appearing on the albums Home and Accept No Substitute, both released in 1969. Through Delaney and Bonnie, Whitlock joined Clapton on his 1970 solo debut and also played on George Harrisons All Things Must Pass. But it was as a member of Derek And The Dominos with Clapton, Duane Allman, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon that Whitlock scored his biggest success. The 1970 debut Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs featured Whitlock as a writer or co writer on six of the fourteen songs, including Bell Bottom Blues. Elton John, whose band opened for Derek And The Dominos on their US tour, recalled watching Whitlock from the side of the stage during those sessions. Whitlock released four solo albums throughout the 1970s, then stepped back from the music business in the 80s and 90s, releasing just a single in 1983 and making a handful of session appearances. He returned in 1999 with a comeback project and later released music with his wife CoCo Carmel. In 2024 Whitlock was inducted into the Beale Street Walk of Fame in Memphis.

Whitlock helped fuse Memphis soul with rock during a pivotal era. His keyboard lines and songwriting on Layla made that album more than a guitarist’s showcase; they helped shape a sound that linked street corner grooves to big studio arrangements. His career arc, from Stax sessions to a late career revival, mirrors a wider story about how musicians from different scenes intersected during the late 60s and early 70s. The passing of a figure who contributed quietly but decisively to a landmark record underscores how certain artists keep scenes alive even when they are not the household names. His work stands as a reminder that rock history rests on the shoulders of players who rarely grab the spotlight yet still move the music forward.

Highlights

His music endures in the players who hear Layla and seek new harmonies.