Bobby Whitlock, the musician who co-founded Derek and the Dominos with Eric Clapton, has died, according to his manager. He was 77.

Whitlock died Sunday morning of cancer, manager Carol Kaye confirmed to CBS News. He was surrounded by his family in Texas, Kaye said. 

The singer-songwriter was a keyboard player and vocalist for Derek and the Domino, the rock band best known for its 1971 album, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs."

In a statement to CBS News, Whitlock's wife, Coco Carmel Whitlock, said, "How do you express in but a few words the grandness of one man who came from abject poverty in the south to heights unimagined in such a short time?"

"As he would always say: 'Life is what you make it, so take it and make it beautiful.' And he did," her statement read. 

She added, "Farewell my Love, I'll see you in my dreams."

Aside from his wife, Whitlock is survived by three children: Ashley Faye Brown, Beau Elijah Whitlock and Tim Whitlock Kelly.