In Memoriam
Joe Cocker
May 20, 1944 – December 22, 2014 · aged 70
Blues Rock · Blue-Eyed Soul · Soft Rock
John Robert 'Joe' Cocker possessed a voice that sounded like it had been dragged over a gravel road—raw, gritty, and overflowing with deep, bluesy emotion. Born in Sheffield, England, in 1944, Cocker became a generational icon after his legendary, intensely physical performance at the 1969 Woodstock festival. His radical, soul-drenched reimagining of The Beatles' 'With a Little Help from My Friends' completely transformed the song, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest interpretive singers in rock history. Known for his spastic, air-guitar playing stage presence, Cocker poured every ounce of his physical being into his performances. Despite battling severe alcohol and substance abuse in the 1970s, he orchestrated a massive comeback in the 1980s, winning a Grammy for the sweeping duet 'Up Where We Belong.' After a long battle with lung cancer, Cocker passed away on December 22, 2014, at the age of 70, leaving behind one of rock's most uniquely soulful voices.
Milestones
With a Little Help from My Friends, You Are So Beautiful, Up Where We Belong
Also remembered in 2014
- Frankie Knuckles (1955–2014)
- Paco de Lucía (1947–2014)
- Pete Seeger (1919–2014)
- Tommy Ramone (1949–2014)