"Farewell to Bobby Whitlock: Musical legend and keyboardist for Derek and the Dominos, who also collaborated with George Harrison, is mourned by Eric Clapton in a tribute"
Bobby Whitlock, a Memphis musician who rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s, passed away at the age of 77. Whitlock was best known for his collaborations with Eric Clapton, particularly in the formation of Derek and the Dominos and the creation of the iconic album, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs."
Whitlock's role in the album was significant, as he wrote or co-wrote seven songs. However, when it came to the piano coda on the title track, "Layla," Whitlock did not write or play it. Instead, the coda is widely credited to Jim Gordon, the drummer of Derek and the Dominos.
In an interview in 2011, Whitlock expressed his displeasure with the coda, stating that he felt there was no "feel" to it initially and declined to play it. He claimed that Rita Coolidge played a significant role in its creation, as she claimed to have co-written it with Gordon while they were in a relationship. Whitlock supported her claim, lending credibility to her contribution, though Gordon officially received the writing credit.
Rita Coolidge has claimed that she co-wrote the piano coda on "Layla" with Jim Gordon. Whitlock supported her claim, stating that Jim took the melody from Rita's song and didn't give her credit for writing it. Whitlock claimed that Rita's boyfriend ripped her off, and nobody would listen to or believe him.
Despite the controversy surrounding the piano coda, Whitlock's collaboration with Clapton continued. They worked together on George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass." Whitlock also re-emerged in the music business at the turn of the century, performing "Bell Bottom Blues" with Clapton on the BBC's "Later... with Jools Holland" show in 2000.
Clapton paid tribute to Whitlock on Facebook after news of his death broke, expressing his condolences to Whitlock's wife CoCo and his family. "Our dear friend Bobby Whitlock, has passed away at 77," Clapton wrote. "RIP Bobby xxx."
In summary, while Whitlock was a key contributor to most of "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," he distanced himself from the piano coda section due to artistic differences and lack of personal involvement in its creation. The piano coda on "Layla" was not written or played by Whitlock himself; instead, it is widely credited to Jim Gordon. Rita Coolidge played a significant role in the creation of the piano coda, as she claimed to have co-authored it with Gordon, a claim supported by Whitlock.
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