Blues and rock singer Joe Cocker has passed away from cancer aged 70 years-old.
Tributes have been pouring in for the Sheffield artist, from various musicians including Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams, Peter Frampton, Steven Tyler and Paul McCartney who described him as a “lovely northern lad.”
The sad news was announced by the singer’s manager Barrie Marshall. Marshall wrote in a statement: “it will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts.”
Cocker is perhaps most well known for his cover of the Beatles’ ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’, immortalised by the television show ‘The Wonder Years’. McCartney was bowled over by Joe’s version of the song saying: “It was just mind blowing, totally turned the song into a soul anthem and I was forever grateful to him for doing that.”
The Sheffield singer released 22 albums, the last being 2012’s Fire It Up. He played Woodstock in 1969 and won a Grammy in 1983, for his duet with Jennifer Warnes on the track ‘Up Where We Belong’.
Sony records released a statement: “John Robert Cocker, known to family, friends, his community and fans around the world as Joe Cocker, passed away on December 22, 2014 after a hard fought battle with small cell lung cancer. Mr Cocker was 70 years old. Joe Cocker was born 5/20/1944 in Sheffield, England where he lived until his early 20’s. In 2007 he was awarded the OBE by the Queen of England. His international success as a blues/rock singer began in 1964 and continues till this day. Joe created nearly 40 albums and toured extensively around the globe.”
Ringo Starr tweeted: “Goodbye and God Bless to Joe Cocker from one of his friends peace and love. R.”
Aerosmith’s singer Steven Tyler also posted on Twitter: “WE LOVED YOU FOREVER, WE WILL MISS YOU ALWAYS…RIP JOE COCKER.”
RIP Joe Cocker pic.twitter.com/qPWH8nhBtm
— Slash (@Slash) December 22, 2014
