Monday, December 22, 2014

Musician Joe Cocker dies at age 70

The British singer Joe Cocker died Monday at the age of seventy from the effects of lung cancer. The singer was known for his raspy voice and jarring movements as he sang. In 1964, the singer internationally known as blues and rock singer. He broke through with his blues take on The Beatles' song With A Little Help From My Friends, which he performed at Woodstock in 1969. 
John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is known for his gritty voice, his spasmodic body movement in performance and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of the Beatles.

His cover of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" reached number one in the UK in 1968, and he performed the song live at Woodstock in 1969. His version also became the theme song for the TV series The Wonder Years. His 1975 hit single, "You Are So Beautiful", reached number five in the US. Cocker is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his US number one "Up Where We Belong", a duet with Jennifer Warnes. In 1993 he was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male, and in 2008 he received an OBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music.

Rest in peace, Joe.

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