Singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Bobby Whitlock, best known as the keyboardist for Eric Clapton's blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, has died. He was 77.
Whitlock died early Sunday morning, Aug. 10, following a battle with cancer, Whitlock's representative Carol Kaye confirmed to USA TODAY. The rock musician was "surrounded by his family" at the time of his death.
Clapton paid tribute to Whitlock in a Facebook post, which featured a photo of Whitlock posing beside a keyboard.
"Our dear friend Bobby Whitlock has passed away at 77," Clapton wrote. "Our sincere condolences to Bobby's wife CoCo and his family on this sad day…. RIP Bobby xxx"
Whitlock, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, had a rich musical upbringing that would later inform his soulful sound as a recording artist. As a child growing up in poverty, Whitlock was exposed to soul music while working in the fields.
