Whitley changed his sound frequently, and achieved modest mainstream success while maintaining a small but devoted following.

Whitley’s style, beginning with his debut album, Living with the Law was rooted primarily in the blues, but drew on an array of influences and was constantly changing. In 2001, the New York Times described his act as “restless, moving into noise-rock and minimalist jazz evoking Chet Baker and Sonic Youth as much as Robert Johnson”.

Whitley himself refused to be classified in one genre as an artist, and dodged radio-friendly pop songs, insisting that he could never sincerely create and perform them.