Bobby Whitlock

Most believe that Derek and the Dominos was Eric Clapton’s band and that he sang lead on most, if not all, songs on their classic 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. And that simply isn’t accurate.

Bobby Whitlock (who we lost to cancer earlier this week) was Eric’s co-conspirator, co-writer, and shared vocals on most of that album’s tracks, not unlike the style of Sam & Dave. And the harmonies weren’t unlike those that Jon Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora once enjoyed.

It was a fascinating era in which some of the most gifted musicians of the age drifted in and out of bands. The year before Layla, Clapton and Whitlock were jamming with Delaney and Bonnie and working with George Harrison. Eric also had a flirtation with the supergroup Blind Faith before wanting to build out Derek & the Dominos with Bobby. If you have an interest in going deeper into that heady time, check out the Wikipedia pages for Bobby and Derek and the Dominos.

So on this Music Friday, we say farewell to a voice you know all too well…but a name you may not.

The ubiquitous “Layla.”

“Why Does Love Have to be So Sad.”

And, my favorite is when Bobby and Eric reunited on the Jools Holland show for “Bell Bottom Blues.”

Thank you for the memories, Bobby. Rock in Peace.