Eric Clapton Bids Farewell to Music Great Following Former Bandmate’s Death

Getting the chance to work alongside stars like George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Sam & Dave, and several others, Bobby Whitlock turned his love for music into a career that spanned six decades. And besides learning from Clapton, the famed musician also helped create Derek and the Dominos with him. Spending a great deal of his life in the music industry, on August 10th, Whitlock passed away at 77. Saddened over the news, Clapton shared a tribute to his late friend and collaborator. 

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Posting a throwback photo of Whitlock in 2011, Clapton sent his love and support to the songwriter’s wife, Coco Carmel, who happened to take the picture. “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.”  

With Whitlock having such an impact on music, the comment section also featured a few tributes from fans. “He will be missed. An amazing artist whose contributions were overshadowed by those with whom he was working. He provided legendary support on some of most seminal albums released in the zenith of rock’s golden age.”

[RELATED: Derek and the Dominos Member Bobby Whitlock, Who Also Collaborated with George Harrison, Dead at 77]

Bobby Whitlock Recalled Who Helped Him Learn To Play The Guitar

Once recalling his time with both Harrison and Clapton, Whitlock remembered getting guitar lessons not just from them but also from Duane Allman and Delaney Bobby. “I’m probably the only person in the world that actually had hands-on guitar instructions from Eric Clapton and Duane Allman and Delaney Bramlett and George Harrison, that’s for sure. Where they’d say, ‘No, Bobby, put your hands here, it goes like this.’”

Continuing to grow as an artist and nurturing a lifelong friendship with Clapton, Whitlock insisted, “When Eric and I started writing songs together, that’s when I was just really just beginning to start playing guitar effectively, as a tool to write songs, rather than something that I expressed how I was feeling. I didn’t know but like three chords, and there I was, sitting with Eric Clapton, and my first song we wrote was ‘I Looked Away.’ “

Whitlock’s music may have played behind some of rock’s greatest names, but his talent and spirit stood front and center for those who knew him.

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)