I was first introduced to Bobby Whitlock by a runner in Austin, TX

who I met while on the Hippiefest tour in the summer of 2010.

It had come up in conversation that he casually knew Bobby so I had mentioned that I would love to meet him

some time and perhaps have the opportunity to persuade him to come be a guest at one of my

annual Clapton "birthday" shows at BB King's in New York City.
A few months later, I received a phone call from this runner telling me

that he was at Bobby's house and to hold on for a minute.

Next thing I know...I'm talking to Bobby Whitlock.

Amazingly enough, we developed a nice relationship over the next few years and always kept in touch.
At one point, I got together with Gibson/Epiphone guitars and artist Lou Yanez

with an idea to send Bobby a very special 60th birthday present.

Upon receiving the guitar, Bobby had liked the artwork so much that he asked Lou to paint

a very special depiction of "Thorn Tree In The Garden" and entrusted him to do so

on the very dobro that his grandmother had given him years ago.

Look at this amazing instrument...