Bobby Whitlock, the keyboardist and co-founder of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, died Sunday morning at his home in Texas after a brief battle with cancer. He was 77.
His manager, Carol Kaye, confirmed Whitlock’s death occurred at 1:20 a.m. on August 10, 2025, with family members present. The musician’s wife, Coco Carmel Whitlock, described her late husband as someone who rose from abject poverty in the South to unimaginable heights in a remarkably short time.
Born Robert Stanley Whitlock on March 18, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee, he gravitated toward music at a young age, learning keyboard and organ. As a teenager, Whitlock befriended artists in the Stax Records orbit, including Booker T. and the M.G.’s, the Staples Singers, and Albert King, eventually working his way into their recording circuit.
After earning his first recording credit performing handclaps on Sam and Dave’s single “I Thank You,” Whitlock signed to Stax Records, making him the first white artist to join the label’s roster. He played organ regularly around the local scene with soul bands Short Cuts and the Counts before deciding to leave Memphis to pursue music with the rock and soul duo Delaney and Bonnie.
Whitlock played keyboards and contributed vocals on Delaney and Bonnie’s two 1969 albums, “Home” and “Accept No Substitute.” While touring with the duo, he met numerous musicians who would become future collaborators, including Bobby Keys, Jim Price, Carl Radle, and Jim Gordon. When Delaney and Bonnie opened for Eric Clapton’s supergroup Blind Faith, Whitlock and Clapton crossed paths for the first time.
Following the release of Delaney and Bonnie’s live album “On Tour with Eric Clapton” in 1970, Whitlock reunited with Clapton, Radle, and Gordon. He joined Clapton on his debut solo album and accompanied George Harrison in the studio for “All Things Must Pass,” Harrison’s third solo album and first following the Beatles’ breakup.
Whitlock contributed heavily to that Billboard number one album, playing organ, piano, harmonium, tubular bells, and backing vocals on most tracks, including the hits “My Sweet Lord” and “What Is Life.” Among his notable contributions was the piano on the track “Beware of Darkness.”
The four musicians subsequently formed Derek and the Dominos as a blues-rock group in June 1970. After initially recording singles “Tell the Truth” and “Roll It Over” with producer Phil Spector, they worked with producer Tom Dowd that autumn to create their debut album, the 1970 double album “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.”
Whitlock and Clapton co-wrote seven of the album’s 14 tracks, including “Bell Bottom Blues,” “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?” and the title track “Layla.” The seven-minute epic “Layla” became a staple of classic rock radio and a highlight of Clapton’s career. The album featured extensive contributions from Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band, who provided lead and slide guitar work despite not being an official band member.
Describing the band’s brief but impactful existence, Whitlock called “That thing was like lightning in a bottle.” The group performed only one club tour, completed one photo session, toured larger venues, recorded one studio album, and conducted one American tour before attempting an unsuccessful second album.
Derek and the Dominos dissolved in 1971 amid tension and depression following the deaths of numerous friends, including Duane Allman in a motorcycle accident and Jimi Hendrix. Whitlock attributed the band’s breakup to excessive drug and alcohol use among members and ego conflicts, particularly noting that drummer Jim Gordon’s personality changed drastically when he became heavily involved with heroin, cocaine, and alcohol.
Following the band’s dissolution, Whitlock launched a solo career, releasing his self-titled debut album in 1972 and “Raw Velvet” later that same year. He went on to record four additional solo albums, several live recordings, and collaborative projects with his partner Coco Carmel.
As a session musician, Whitlock contributed to numerous notable recordings, including Dr. John’s “The Sun, Moon and Herbs,” Clapton’s “The History of Eric Clapton,” and Manassas’ “Down the Road.” He also appeared uncredited on the Rolling Stones’ 1972 album “Exile on Main St.,” claiming he was denied co-writing credit for the song “I Just Want to See His Face,” which he said he co-created with Mick Jagger.
In 2024, Whitlock was awarded a Brass Music Note on Memphis’ Beale Street Walk of Fame for his musical contributions. He expressed his philosophy on conducting himself as a decent person and gentleman while making memorable waves in the music industry.
Eric Clapton paid tribute to his former bandmate on social media, expressing sincere condolences to Whitlock’s wife CoCo and family. Filmmaker John Fusco, a longtime friend, remembered Whitlock as a major influence, rock legend, and storyteller who became a prolific artist in his later years, creating paintings that were displayed at the Crockett County Museum in Ozona, Texas, in 2022.
Whitlock is survived by his wife Coco Carmel Whitlock, sister Debbie Wade, and three children: Ashley Faye Brown, Beau Elijah Whitlock, and Tim Whitlock Kelly.
