In the crowded showbiz scene, every once in a while comes a star that shines so brightly that, when it’s gone, its absence is almost painful. Blues singer and rocker Joe Cocker, one of the heroes of the ‘70s Brit rock, was one of those: he died last night at the age of 70.
Cocker had been diagnosed with lung cancer and he died from complications from the disease, TMZ reports citing his publicist. He was at his ranch in Colorado when he passed, surrounded by family.
The world, his fans, and his celebrity peers are still in shock.
Cocker, the iconic singer with a distinctive voice
Cocker rose to international fame with his performance at Woodstock in 1969, which is considered to this day one of the highlights of the festival. He became, in time, the typical rock star: he did drugs and acted crazy, and he occasionally acted out on stage, but he never disappointed his fans, delivering for them near-perfect performances and new music.
British-born Cocker was a very prolific artist, having released almost 40 albums in his entire life. He kept working until almost his final hours, doing his last live performance last year in London, Hammersmith.
He wanted to release a new album as well, sometime soon, but he never got the chance.
Among Cocker’s biggest hits were “Unchain My Heart” (see the video below), “You Are So Beautiful,” “Delta Lady,” “With a Little Help from My Friends,” and “Up Where We Belong,” which was included on the “An Officer and a Gentleman” OST and won him an Oscar for Best Song.
Joe Cocker was an impressive presence on stage and on his studio recorded materials, but he was also a good friend and a consummate professional, which explains the wave of tributes coming from his celebrity peers.
Twitter is in mourning
Joe Cocker was very close with The Beatles, whose songs he used to cover in his own concerts. In a statement to the British media, Sir Paul McCartney says that he’ll miss Joe as a friend and fellow musician, because he had that special gift that could bring joy into other people’s hearts, through his music.
He also recalls the day Cocker and producer Denny Cordell decided to do a cover of The Beatles’ song “With a Little Help from My Friends,” and how thrilled he was when he first listened to it.
“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,” McCartney says.
Ringo Starr has also expressed his regret at the star’s passing on social media. You can find his message below, together with others, from equally famous showbiz people.
Joe’s wife, Pam, saved him from the rockstar life
In a 2000 interview, Joe Cocker talked candidly about his previous rockstar life, and how it took a turn for the worse in 1972, when he got really seriously into drugs. He credited his wife, Pam, with saving him from it: the two met in 1978 and were married 9 years later.
In 1992, Cocker gave up smoking after noticing that he couldn’t pull off a high-end falsetto as he used to before and that he was having issues breathing.
“That's been the saving grace,” he said. “I'll never completely come through all those years of drinking and smoking and stuff. But I know people who prefer my voice today to how I sounded back then.”
His voice, as Edgar Berger, chairman and chief executive of Sony Music Entertainment International, says in a statement, will “forever be etched in our memories.” He will be missed.
Goodbye and God bless to Joe Cocker from one of his friends peace and love. Ršāļøšš
— Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic) December 22, 2014
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.
— Val Kilmer (@ValEKilmer) December 22, 2014
RIP Joe Cocker. Great voice & spirit. #IGetByWithALittleHelpFromMyFriends
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) December 22, 2014
Sad to hear of Joe Cocker’s passing.I interviewed him on my radio show years ago, he sang #YouAreSoBeautiful on the air.Incredible man. #RIP
— Larry King (@kingsthings) December 22, 2014
WE LOVED YOU FOREVER, WE WILL MISS YOU ALWAYS...RIP JOE COCKER.
— Steven Tyler (@IamStevenT) December 22, 2014
RIP Joe Cocker. You will be missed! #RIPJoeCocker
— Official Motörhead (@myMotorhead) December 22, 2014
Rest in peace, Joe Cocker. You brought so much joy to so many people. You will be missed.
— Gibson Guitar (@gibsonguitar) December 22, 2014
RIP Joe Cocker. Such an inspiration to me and music. His voice will carry on.
— Phillip Phillips (@Phillips) December 22, 2014
Goodbye Joe Cocker! #Soulman
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) December 22, 2014
Oh god. Joe Cocker. The world now feels like a two-legged table.
— Hugh Laurie (@hughlaurie) December 22, 2014
RIP Joe Cocker. #fcancer
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) December 22, 2014