Singer Joe Cocker
His agent Barrie Marshall confirmed that he had died of an undisclosed illness.
He said he was “simply unique” and “it will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts.”
Known for his gritty voice, Cocker began his singing career in the pubs and clubs of Sheffield in the 1960s before hitting the big time.
He was propelled to pop stardom when his version of The Beatles’ With A Little Help from My Friends reached number one.
His duet with Jennifer Warnes, Up Where We Belong – from An Officer And A Gentleman – hit number one and went on to win both a Grammy and an Academy Award.
He was honoured with an OBE in 2007.
Last year he broke all his own records in arenas across Europe, with a number one album in Germany and what was to be his final concert in Hammersmith, London, in June.
Marshall said “he was without the doubt the greatest rock/soul voice ever to come out of Britain- and remained the same man throughout his life.
“Hugely talented, a true star, but a kind and humble man who loved to perform. Anyone who ever saw him live will never forget him.”
Source BBC News
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PL9nqFX-3qd02UNRigePFP1PMy7JvIq_eD]
Joe Cocker – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Robert “Joe” Cocker OBE (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and was known …