Joe Cocker OBE, one of the greatest singers and performers of a generation, has lost his battle with lung cancer and died at age 70.
Cocker released his first single, a cover of The Beatles’ ‘I’ll Cry Instead’ but didn’t rise to fame until 1969 with another Beatles song, his acid rock version of The Beatles ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’.
Cocker’s performance at Woodstock established him as one of the greatest live performers at the time.
Joe Cocker’s unique interruptions of contemporary songs of the day and evergreen covers made him one of the most unique artists leading into the 1970s with his version of The Box Tops ‘The Letter’, Dave Mason’s ‘Feelin’ Alright’, more Beatles ‘She Came In Through The Bathroom Window’ and Leon Russell’s ‘Delta Lady’. His re-invention of ‘Cry Me A River’ placed him in a category of his own but Joe always cited Ray Charles as his major influence. Years later he would sing with Charles and have a major hit with this song ‘Unchain My Heart’.
After Woodstock, Cocker put together Mad Dogs & Englishmen one of the most paramount collections of musicians to ever play on one stage. The line-up featured Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Keys, Jim Keltner, Carl Radle, Chris Stainton, Don Preston, Claudia Lennear and Denny Cordell.
On March 27 and 28, Mad Dogs & Englishmen were captured live at New York’s Fillmore East. The live concert film immortalised one of Cocker’s outstanding achievements.
Cocker’s career wasn’t without controversy. In 1972, a failing Australian Liberal government lead by unpopular Billy McMahon (father of actor Julian McMahon) decided to make an example of “the bad element of society” and clean up the country by deporting Joe Cocker during his tour. Cocker was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana in Adelaide and then after arriving in Melbourne the following day was ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. The deportation order was overturned by new Prime Minister Gough Whitlam when he came to power after McMahon’s defeat.
Joe Cocker’s sound began to evolve and throughout the 70s he became one of the biggest acts in the world. In 1973 he released the stunning ‘I Can Stand A Little Rain’ album featuring the now classic ‘You Are So Beautiful’, a cover of a song by Dennis Wilson and Billy Preston.
Cocker reinvented himself again in the early 80s when he sang lead vocals on two songs for jazz group The Crusaders on their ‘Standing Tall’ album. ‘I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today’ was nominated for a Grammy Award. Next came ‘Up Where We Belong’ with Jennifer Warnes for the movie ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’. It won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo and the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1982.
Joe repeated his movie presence in 1986 with the inclusion of ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ from his 1986 album ‘A Civilized Man’ in the movie ‘91/2 Weeks’.
Cocker was one of the legends who revisited Woodstock for the 1994 event. In 2002 he performed at Buckingham Palace for the Party at the Palace to mark for Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Then in 2007 Queen Elizabeth II awarded Cocker the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to music.
The final Joe Cocker album ‘Fire It Up’ was released in 2012. It featured a cover of ‘I Come In Peace’, a song from Australia’s Ross Wilson (Mondo Rock, Daddy Cool) and Rick Brewster (The Angels).
Billy Joel gave the first indication that Joe Cocker wasn’t well when he said at his 17 September 2014 that Joe “was not very well right now”.
Joe Cocker died at his home in Crawford, California.
PHOTO GALLERY: Joe Cocker at the Palais, Melbourne
Joe Cocker Australian discography
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