A co-founder of the 70s band Derek and the Dominos has died. Bobby Whitlock was 77 years old. His manager confirmed his death, saying that Whitlock died on Aug. 10 at 1:20 a.m. at home in Texas after a brief illness, surrounded by his family, TMZ reported. Variety reported the illness was cancer.

Stax Records signed Whitlock as the first white artist to join singers like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave at the label.

Bobby Whitlock, founding member of Derek and the Dominos whose soulful keyboard and vocals shaped the band’s only album, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," and whose session work is heard on records by George Harrison,