Bobby Whitlock, Derek and the Dominos Co-Founder, Dead at 77

Bobby Whitlock, the impassioned keyboardist and co-founder of Derek and the Dominos, died early Sunday morning, August 10, at the age of 77. His manager, Carol Kaye, confirmed that he passed peacefully at his home in Texas following a brief illness, surrounded by family.

Born in Memphis, Whitlock became the first white artist signed to Stax Records, immersing himself in the soul-rich sounds of Booker T. & the M.G.’s and Sam & Dave. His deep Southern musical roots and emotive playing soon brought him into the orbit of Eric Clapton when they joined Delaney & Bonnie and Friends in 1968.

That collaboration laid the groundwork for what would become one of rock’s most revered partnerships.

The Music, the Muse, and the Messy Middle

Whitlock’s creative bond with Clapton culminated in the 1970 release of Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, an album that has since become a cornerstone of classic rock. Whitlock co-wrote half of the record’s 14 tracks, helping shape its raw emotional tone and sonic depth.

But Layla was as much a personal outcry as a musical milestone. Clapton had fallen in love with Pattie Boyd, the wife of his close friend George Harrison. Boyd—who had already inspired Harrison’s Beatles ballad “Something”—would also become the muse behind Clapton’s anguished guitar work and songwriting on Layla. The result was a masterclass in vulnerability, framed by one of rock’s most tangled personal dramas.

Whitlock was there for all of it—musically and personally. He also played on Harrison’s seminal triple album All Things Must Pass, released the same year, along with fellow Dominos Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Reflecting on the sessions in his autobiography, Whitlock wrote, “I always knew that many of George’s songs were directed at Eric, just as Eric’s were to George on Layla.”

A Quiet Exit, a Lasting Legacy

After Derek and the Dominos disbanded in 1971, Whitlock recorded several solo albums before stepping away from the spotlight. He cited a distaste for the disco era as one of the reasons for his retreat. He re-emerged in 1999, releasing nine more albums—many featuring his wife and musical partner, CoCo Carmel.

With Whitlock’s passing, Eric Clapton is now the last surviving member of Derek and the Dominos. Bassist Carl Radle died in 1980, drummer Jim Gordon passed in 2023, and Duane Allman—whose iconic slide guitar work lit up most of Layla—died in a motorcycle accident in 1971.

Though often working just outside the limelight, Bobby Whitlock’s contributions were pivotal to some of rock’s most enduring recordings. His death marks the passing of a deeply influential figure in 20th-century popular music.