His worldwide career spanning decades began at the legendary Woodstock Festival. Today, at the age of 70, British rock musician Joe Cocker died of complications from lung cancer.
After the death of Udo Jürgens another sad news from the music world, because today the rock legend Joe Cocker has also passed away. This was confirmed by the artist's management and record label. Cocker was one of the preeminent rock musicians of his generation. Known for his grater voice and idiosyncratic body language on stage. There has probably not been a rock star whose life can boast similar ups and downs as Cocker's. Although he was completely on the floor countless times, he kept getting up. Cocker recently announced a new album for the coming year.
Especially during the 70s, Cocker experienced excessive drug and alcohol consumption. “There were drugs everywhere and I pounced on them. And once you're in this downward spiral, it's difficult to get out of it. It took me years to do it, ”he once said. It was his wife Pam Baker who helped him change his life. "She made me realize that people still wanted to hear me sing," he said. Cocker was born on May 20, 1944 in the northern English steel metropolis of Sheffield. He had his breakthrough at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 with a legendary interpretation of the Beatles hit "With a Little Help from my Friends". At the festival he made the air guitar really popular with his performance. During this time, Cocker toured temporarily without breaks, mental problems and substance abuse were the result. During a tour in Australia, for example, he had to leave the country within 48 hours because of marijuana possession.
In the 80s he recovered and was able to build on his earlier successes. The former Sheffield gas fitter described Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan as musical influences. Songs like “You Are So Beautiful”, “You Can Leave Your Hat On” and “N'oubliez Jamais” have achieved cult status over the decades. In 1983 he received a Grammy Award for the duet “Up where We Belong” with Jennifer Warnes. He has worked with artists such as Ray Charles, Pete Tonshend, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, among others. Along with Bob Dylan and Barclay James Harvest, the singer was one of the first western artists allowed to perform in the GDR.
Cocker was named one of the “100 best singers of all time” by the music magazine Rolling Stone. Most recently, the Sheffielder lived with his wife Pam Baker, with whom he had been married since 1987, on a ranch in the USA. “He was without a doubt the greatest rock and soul voice that Great Britain has ever produced,” wrote his agent Barrie Marschall in a tribute to the musician's death.
“Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song”… no more… The rocker with the grating voice has left the stage. Rest in Peace, Joe!