Legendary singer Joe Cocker, one of the most distinctive and influential voices of the rock era, died yesterday (December 22nd) of small cell lung cancer at age 70 at his Crawford, Colorado ranch. The Huffington Post reported that Cocker is survived by his wife of 27 years, Pam; his brother, Victor; his step-daughter, Zoey Schroeder; and his two grandchildren, Eva and Simon Schroeder. Cocker was born John Robert Cocker on May 20th, 1944 in Sheffield, England. The rock world at large first heard of Cockers illness last September during a Billy Joel concert at New Yorks Madison Square Garden, where he informed the crowd that Cocker was in ill health, called for his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and performed a spot on rendition of Cockers version of With A Little Help From My Friends. Although Cocker was known to compose some of his material, including “High Time We Went” and “Marjorine” with pianist Chris Stainton, he will forever be known for reinventing others’ material -- including John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s “With A Little Help From My Friends” with lead guitar by Jimmy Page, which Cocker immortalized at the 1969 Woodstock festival. He also covered the “Fab Four’s” “I’ll Cry Instead,” “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window,” and “Something” along with Bob Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman,” John Sebastian’s “Darling Be Home Soon,” Randy Newman’s “You Can Leave Your Hat On,” Billy Preston (and a still uncredited) Dennis Wilson’s “You Are So Beautyful,” Leon Russell’s “Delta Lady,” and Dave Mason’s “Feelin’ Alright. It was Cocker’s one-of a kind gravely voice, spastic lost-in-the-song gyrations, along with his iconic 1970s and ‘80s hits that solidified his legendary status -- although he was passed over for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame every year for the past 25 years. His groundbreaking 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour resulted in the hits “The Letter” and “Cry Me A River. Cocker scored his sole Number One hit in 1982 for his An Officer And A Gentleman duet with Jennifer Warnes, Up Where We Belong.” The tune, written by Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Will Jennings, snagged the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal, and the Best Original Song prize at both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. In 2007, Joe Cocker was awarded the O.B.E. (Order Of The British Empire) by the Queen of England. His last studio album, Fire It Up, was released in 2012. When we last caught up with Cocker he told us that the hardships of traveling were starting to take their toll on him: Yknow, now that Im in my 60s its getting a little hard. I was talking to my manager about not working so extensively, cause sometimes I still go out for three months at a go and we do like seven shows a week. As Im getting older I kind of feel when I do a two-hour show, I mean, I feel its kind of precious. Cocker, who was beloved for his distinctively growly vocal stylings, said that he worked hard to keep his voice in shape: Ive just tried to, yknow, look after what Ive got in the last few years. I quit smoking seven years ago because I was losing my falsetto, you know, what bit I got left of it. Thats been about one of the best things that Ive done in the last few years. More for breathing, actually -- yknow, you forget when youre out there for two hours, its a lot of breathing, just pushing those songs out. Yknow, it served me well, but I really dont do, I mean, yknow, I have no kind of. . . I gargle with Listerine, that awful stuff (laughs), and thats as about as severe as I get. Joe Cocker admitted to us that overseas fans hassled him a lot more than in the States for depending on outside material to record: Yknow, I take a lot of flack for this in Europe. I mean, the French are, Joe, why do you always do covers, these endless covers? And I go, Well, yknow, its something Ive -- I dunno, to me theyre interpretations of great songs. So its really how you read them in the end, or if you enjoy hearing them. Cocker, who relied on cover songs since the beginning of his his career, told us that simply put, his own songwriting skills arent where hed like them to be: Im afraid that Ive become dormant in that respect. Its not something. . . I still find it tough assembling a bunch of songs each time we go in the studio -- that hasnt eased up at all -- but I dont have any real burning desire to write right now. Randy Bachman told us not too long ago that he, Joe Cocker and the Guess Who actually go back a long ways together: We used to cross paths in the 70s in the airports when he was going through with his circus of Mad Dogs And Englishmen -- and literally, theyd be dressed like carnival circus entertainers. They were like Sly & the Family Stone -- they wore in airports what they wore onstage, and they would dress up in these cool topcoats with tails and hats and sparkles and diamonds. Whereas us guys in the Guess Who, or, like, BTO, we, we wore jeans and T-shirts like normal guys. FRIENDS AND FANS REMEMBER JOE COCKER Paul McCartney: “It’s really sad to hear about Joe’s passing. He was a lovely Northern lad who I loved a lot and like many people I loved his singing. I was especially pleased when he decided to cover ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ and I remember him and (producer) Denny Cordell coming round to the studio in Saville Row and playing me what they’d recorded and it was just mind blowing, totally turned the song into a soul anthem and I was forever grateful for him for doing that. I knew him through the years as a good mate and I was so sad to hear that he had been ill and really sad to hear today that he had passed away. He was a great guy, a lovely guy who brought so much to the world and we’ll all miss him.” Ringo Starr: Goodbye and God bless to Joe Cocker from one of his friends peace and love.” Eric Clapton: More sad news, we just learned that our friend Joe Cocker has passed away, he was 70. RIP Joe... Brian Wilson: “I felt bad about Joe Cocker passing away. He was a great singer who made every song his own - like he did with ‘You Are So Beautiful.’ Love and Mercy, Brian” Peter Frampton: “So sad to hear of Joe Cockers passing. ‘You are so beautiful’ is both Joe and Nicky Hopkins on piano at their very best. Gonna play it now RIP.” Paul Stanley: “RIP Joe Cocker: A sad loss to cancer. I remember hearing the first album&that amazing voice. A life of great singing” Gene Simmons: “Sad to hear Joe Cocker has passed away. Our prayers go out to his family.” Steven Tyler: “WE LOVED YOU FOREVER, WE WILL MISS YOU ALWAYS...RIP JOE COCKER.” John Densmore: “R.I.P. Joe Cocker, 1944-2014.” The Doobie Brothers: “The world lost a legend today... Joe Cocker was truly an original. Hell be forever missed. Rest in Peace, Brother.” Joe Walsh: “God Bless Joe Cocker. So special. You dont listen to Joe Cocker records, you sing along with them. Thanks for the great music & friendship.” Randy Newman: He was really a good guy and of course, a great, great artist. Bryan Adams: “Joe Cocker has died. RIP my good friend, you were one of the best rock singers EVER.” Bootsy Collins: “Another legend has made his mark & left us with the gifts of funky soul in his music. ‘Mr. Joe Cocker’ gone at 70” Slash: “RIP Joe Cocker” Lenny Kravitz: “Joe Cocker. Thank you for sharing your soul. RIP. Matt Sorum: “You are So Beautiful Joe Cocker RIP to the deepest soul singer ever !!!” Bette Midler: “Goodbye to Joe Cocker. There was never anyone like him, and there never will be again. The one of the Sounds of an Era passes.” Boy George: “Goodbye Joe Cocker!” Albert Brooks: “RIP Joe Cocker. You were so beautiful.” Motorhead: “RIP Joe Cocker. You will be missed!” Dave Mustaine: “To the family of Joe Cocker, I am sorry for your loss. He is rocking Heaven now. RIP Joe Cocker.” Govt Mule: “Saddened to hear about the passing of Joe Cocker this morning. May he rest in peace.” Mackenzie Phillips: “RIP Joe Cocker.” Val Kilmer: “Ah. What a mighty mighty original voice is gone. Joe Cocker one of the all time soul of Rock and Roller Kings will be missed forever.” Tom Morello: “RIP Joe Cocker. Great voice & spirit.” Taylor Hicks: “So sorry to hear of the passing of Joe Cocker - he was a mentor to me. May he rest in peace.” Lance Armstrong: “RIP Joe Cocker.” The Dandy Warhols: “This bloke wasnt messin around. RIP Joe Cocker.” Rob Thomas: “so sad to hear about the legendary Joe Cocker passing.” Lady Antebellum: “just heard Joe Cocker passed away. sad to hear that. When I say HUGE influence thats an understatement. he will be missed- ck”
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 13:34:29 +0000
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