Carl Radle 1942 - 1980

This is the first in a series of profiles on some of Rock And Roll's most influential musicians.

While listening to Derek & The Dominos one and only studio album "Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs" for the first time in quite a few years, I realized I had forgotten how talented a bassist Carl Radle was. This album by far has some of his best work. Radle can be heard on all of Eric Clapton's solo albums from 1970 through 1979. He also toured with Clapton during these years. Radle was instrumental in Clapton's return to recording and touring in 1974 after his three year hiatus. Carl also acted as arranger on several of Clapton's songs, most notably "Motherless Children" he even earned an associate producer's credit on Clapton's 1976 album "No Reason To Cry".

Carl's career began long before teaming up with Clapton. In high school (Edison High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma) Carl developed a love for rock and roll music. By the time of his graduation in 1960 he had purchased a used guitar and began teaching himself to play. As Carl's playing improved he began playing local clubs with fellow musicians and friends most notably Russell Bridges (Leon Russell) and Johnny Cale (J.J. Cale)

After graduation from high school, Carl moved to California in hopes of breaking into the music business but after about a year and finding it very hard to make a living he returned to Tulsa and joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1964. Carl was discharged from the OANG in 1965. Later that same year Carl received a call from his friend Leon Russel, who was still in California offering him a job as the new bass player for the band Gary Lewis and the Playboys.

After some consideration Carl decided to return to California and give it another try. He ended up recording and touring with Gary Lewis and the Playboys for about a year. During this year the band made appearances on the Ed Sullavan Show, The Tonight Show, Shindig and Hullabaloo. The band called it quits in 1967 after Gary Lewis was called into military service.

Carl remained in California picking up work as a studio musician and playing gigs with Dobie Gray in clubs. He also recorded albums with blues master John Lee Hooker and a band called The Colours in 1968. In 1969 Carl joined the group Delaney, Bonnie & Friends and toured as the opening act for Blind Faith which included Eric Clapton. After the break up of Blind Faith, Clapton joined Delaney, Bonnie & Friends for a tour. Out of this tour came the album "Delaney, Bonnie & Friends On Tour" released in June of 1970. 1970 also brought an end to Delaney, Bonnie & Friends.

After the disbandment of Delaney, Bonnie & Friends, Carl joined with friend Leon Russell who was forming the band Mad Dogs And Englishmen to back up Joe Cocker on a 46 city 56 day tour. This tour not only resulted a Gold album but a major motion picture too.

During this time Bobby Whitlock, former keyboardist for Delaney, Bonnie & Friends was working with Eric Clapton who wanted to put together a group to tour and promote his first solo album. Bobby contacted Carl and drummer Jim Gordon to assist. Sidetracked at first the group worked with George Harrison during May and June 1970 on Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" album. During a break on the "All Things Must Pass" project, Clapton, Whitlock, Gordon and Carl (what would soon be known as Derek And The Dominos) began rehearsing and completed their first single, "To Tell The Truth" with "Roll It Over" as the B-side. With the Harrison session finish the group returned to the studio in Miami Florida and completed work on what has become one of the true classic rock and roll albums of all time, "Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs"

After "Layla" the group again teamed up with George Harrison for his two "Concert For Bangladesh" benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden in August 1971. These two shows also resulted in an album and motion picture.

Derek And The Dominos returned to the studio to begin work on what would have been their second album but the resulting tensions between the members caused a disillusioned Clapton to call it quits and disbanded the group. This was the beginning of Clapton's three year hiatus from music. Over the next three years Carl kept busy doing session work for various artists including Rita Coolidge, Daune Allman, John Lee Hooker, Leon Russell and others.

In 1974 Eric Clapton was coaxed out of seclusion by Carl and others. Soon afterwards work began on what would become "461 Ocean Boulevard". The group of musicians who played on "461" continued to record and tour with Clapton until 1979 when Clapton decided he wanted to take his music in a differant direction. The band was dissolved and all the musicians went their separate ways.

Carl worked with Peter Frampton for awhile but eventully returned home to Tulsa. Carl spent the rest of his career working with local musicians again.

Carl Radle died on May 30, 1980 at the age of 37 from the effects of alcohol and narcotics.