A Son of the Rock

Singer/songwriter Bobby Whitlock, who worked with many rock music luminaries over the years, has died.

He came to Eric Clapton’s attention when he was with Delaney and Bonnie and Friends was a founder member of Derek and the Dominos with Eric Clapton and others. He was of the opinion that that band was the best on the planet, “better than anybody.”

He was a major contributor to their LP Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, the only one the band managed to complete, co-writing six songs with Clapton and was the sole writer of Thorn Tree in the Garden.

Derek and the Dominos: Thorn Tree in the Garden

The band’s first single was Tell the Truth.

Derek and the Dominos: Tell the Truth (Single Version)

Clapton thought it was too fast (it does undeniably have energy) and it was re-recorded for the album.

This is a reworking of the song Whitlock made for his second solo album.

Bobby Whitlock: Tell the Truth

Robert Stanley Whitlock: 18/3/1948 – 10/8/2025. So it goes.