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Bobby Whitlock, Derek and the Dominos founder, dies at 77
CBS News ^ | August 10, 2025 | Jared Ochacher, Kiki Intarasuwan

Posted on 03/15/2026 10:04:53 AM PDT by Yardstick

Bobby Whitlock, the musician who co-founded Derek and the Dominos with Eric Clapton, has died, according to his manager. He was 77.

Whitlock died Sunday morning of cancer, manager Carol Kaye confirmed to CBS News. He was surrounded by his family in Texas, Kaye said.

The singer-songwriter was a keyboard player and vocalist for Derek and the Domino, the rock band best known for its 1971 album, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs."

[snip]

In a statement posted to social media, Clapton said, "Our dear friend Bobby Whitlock, has passed away at 77, our sincere condolences to Bobby's wife CoCo and his family on this sad day.... RIP Bobby xxx."

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: bobby; derek; dominos; whitlock
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Bobby Whitlock died this past August and somehow I missed the news. Search didn't turn up any articles so I figured I'd post one. Whitlock had an amazingly soulful voice and is credited with inspiring Eric Clapton to take his own singing up several notches during recording of the Layla album.
1 posted on 03/15/2026 10:04:53 AM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick

His song Thorn Tree in the Garden from Layla:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thorntree+garden


2 posted on 03/15/2026 10:06:28 AM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick

Wow I didn’t know. RIP


3 posted on 03/15/2026 10:10:12 AM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: dayglored

Mighta been Clapner’s best work. Jim Gordon killed his mother.

He was very accomplished. Made it big.


4 posted on 03/15/2026 10:15:31 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (Curt)
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To: Yardstick

Bobby Whitlock’s manager was “Carol Kaye?” Not _the_ Carole Kaye, world-famous session bass-player that refused induction into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” is it?


5 posted on 03/15/2026 10:17:46 AM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Clapner? Jim Gordon killed whose mother?


6 posted on 03/15/2026 10:18:33 AM PDT by Blue Highway ( )
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To: Blue Highway

Clapper was a Bushism if I’m not mistaken.


7 posted on 03/15/2026 10:22:59 AM PDT by 6ppc (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act -George Orwell)
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To: Blue Highway

Dr. Jocelyn Elders (Bill Clinton’s Surgeon General) famously gushed about seeing an “Eric Clapner” concert.

I don’t know anything about Jim Gordon.

Though, IIRC, Eric Clapton lost a son when the toddler fell from the balcony of a high-rise.


8 posted on 03/15/2026 10:23:36 AM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: Yardstick

The Layla album is an absolute masterpiece. The combined talents of Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon and Duane Allman, along with producer Tom Dowd, resulted in something truly extraordinary.


9 posted on 03/15/2026 10:25:19 AM PDT by irishjuggler
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To: Blue Highway
Sad story.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gordon_(musician)

10 posted on 03/15/2026 10:25:41 AM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: dayglored

Rest In Peace, Bobby Whitlock.


11 posted on 03/15/2026 10:28:34 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: All

Was there actually a Derek?


12 posted on 03/15/2026 10:29:36 AM PDT by Reily
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To: Yardstick

Very sad. RIP music man.

So many of these musicians had to take the horrid jabs just to be able to play in most venues.


13 posted on 03/15/2026 10:30:36 AM PDT by Jane Long (Jesus is Lord!)
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To: Blue Highway

his own


14 posted on 03/15/2026 10:35:26 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (Curt)
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To: Jane Long

Clapton was the first big concert I was able to go to as a #PureBlood without having to having had a Covid test immediately prior. Jimmy Vaughn was the warm up, was a great show. Sept ‘21.


15 posted on 03/15/2026 10:39:59 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: FreedomPoster

Awesome treat! Glad you got to see that one.

We stopped attending long time regular venues over the d@m jab requirements.

Haven’t missed them, either!


16 posted on 03/15/2026 10:43:05 AM PDT by Jane Long (Jesus is Lord!)
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To: BradyLS

> Carol Kaye

Could be, she’s still alive.


17 posted on 03/15/2026 10:45:20 AM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Jim Gordon was a very gifted drummer who was also very strange. He would be gone for days and go to who knows where. He had lived with his mother and apparently they had an argument and he stabbed her then bashed her head in with a hammer. He was or a long tine the highest paid musician in prison.


18 posted on 03/15/2026 10:46:32 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan (have to )
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To: billorites

Yeah, I just spent some time going through his wiki page. Sad story for real. He was on a ton of albums, a lot of stuff I’ve always enjoyed, Steely Dan’s Pretzel Logic (one of my favorites from Steely Dan), Glen Campbell “Wichita Lineman” and was a member of the Wrecking Crew. I had no idea, but a pivotal musician from the 60s and 70s.


19 posted on 03/15/2026 10:46:43 AM PDT by Blue Highway ( )
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To: BradyLS

Google AI says no.


20 posted on 03/15/2026 10:47:27 AM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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