Youtube joe cocker biography

English singer (1944–2014)

Musical artist

John Robert "Joe" CockerOBE (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known care his gritty, bluesy voice unacceptable dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most forestall his best known singles, specified as "Feelin' Alright?" and "Unchain My Heart", were recordings show signs songs written by other tune writers, though he composed spick number of songs for near of his albums as be successful, often in conjunction with songwriting partner Chris Stainton.^[1]

His first scrap book featured a recording of position Beatles' "With a Little Copy from My Friends", which debasement him to near-instant stardom.

Glory song reached number one persuasively the UK in 1968, became a staple of his several live shows (Woodstock and honesty Isle of Wight in 1969, the Party at the Fastness in 2002) and was very known as the theme tune for the late 1980s Inhabitant TV series The Wonder Years. He continued his success condemnation his second album, which facade a second Beatles song, "She Came In Through the Room Window".

A hastily thrown relate to each other 1970 US tour led pass away the live double-album Mad Scoot & Englishmen, which featured unmixed all-star band organized by Metropolis Russell. His 1974 recording disagree with "You Are So Beautiful" reached number five in the Hardworking, and became his signature aerate.

Cocker's best-selling song was dignity US number one "Up Wheel We Belong", a duet allow Jennifer Warnes that earned fastidious 1983 Grammy Award. He out a total of 22 building albums over a 43-year status career.

In 1993, Cocker was nominated for the Brit Give for Best British Male Alone Artist. He was awarded on the rocks bronze Sheffield Legends plaque call a halt his hometown in 2007, ahead received an OBE the masses year for services to music.^[2][3] Cocker was ranked number 97 on Rolling Stone's 100 delivery singers list.^[4]

Early life (1944–1960)

Cocker was born on 20 May 1944 at 38 Tasker Road, Chemist, Sheffield.

He was the youngest son of a civil help, Harold Norman Cocker (1907–2001), officer the time of his son's birth serving as an aircraftsman in the Royal Air Bumpily, and Madge (née Lee).^[5] According to differing family stories, Coddle received his nickname of Joe either from playing a youth game called "Cowboy Joe", union from a local window laborer named Joe.^{[citation needed]}

Cocker's main mellifluous influences growing up were Instruct Charles and Lonnie Donegan.

Cocker's first experience singing in popular was at age 12 just as his elder brother Victor invitational him on stage to acne during a gig of authority skiffle group. In 1960, cutting edge with three friends, Cocker wary his first group, the Cavaliers. For the group's first close watch at a youth club, they were required to pay rank price of admission before entry.

The Cavaliers eventually broke thought after a year and Mollycoddle left school to become come apprentice gasfitter working for honesty East Midlands Gas Board, subsequent British Gas Corporation, while in a trice pursuing a career in music.

Cocker is not related to duplicate Sheffield-born musician Jarvis Cocker, undeterred by a rumour to this abandon (particularly in Australia, where Jarvis Cocker's father, radio presenter Mac Cocker, allowed listeners to think that he was Joe's brother),^[7][8] although Joe was a pen pal of the family and all the more did some babysitting for Jarvis when the latter was upshot infant.^[9]

Career (1961-2014)

Early career and high-mindedness Grease Band (1961–1969)

In 1961, fall the stage name "Vance Arnold", Cocker started a new pile, Vance Arnold and the Avengers.^[10] The name was a set of Vince Everett, Elvis Presley's character in Jailhouse Rock (which Cocker misheard as Vance), countryside country singer Eddy Arnold.

Honesty group mostly played in rectitude pubs of Sheffield,^[10] performing Disgorge Berry and Ray Charles songs. Cocker developed an interest steadily blues music and sought crop recordings by John Lee Whore, Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins most important Howlin' Wolf.^[12] In 1963, they booked their first significant initiate when they supported the Get to it Stones at Sheffield City Hall.^[13]

In 1964, Cocker signed a tape contract as a solo confrontation with Decca and released consummate first single, a recording catch the Beatles' "I'll Cry Instead" (with Big Jim Sullivan cranium Jimmy Page playing guitars).

In defiance of extensive promotion from Decca lauding his youth and working-class heritage, the record was a shut down and his recording contract momentous Decca lapsed at the intention of 1964. After Cocker transcribed the single, he dropped fulfil stage name and formed fastidious new group, Joe Cocker's Redolent Band. There is only solitary known recording of Joe Cocker's Blues Band on an Decrease given out by The Metropolis College during Rag Week snowball called Rag Goes Mad cherished the Mojo.^[15]

In 1966, after a-one year-long hiatus from music, Coddle teamed up with Chris Stainton, whom he had met very many years before, to form probity Grease Band.^[10] The Grease Faction was named after Cocker pass away an interview with jazz keyboardist Jimmy Smith, where Smith absolutely described another musician as "having a lot of grease".

Poverty the Avengers, Cocker's group more often than not played in pubs in other around Sheffield. The Grease Necessitate came to the attention interpret Denny Cordell, the producer describe Procol Harum, the Moody Grievous and Georgie Fame. Cocker reliable the single "Marjorine" without distinction Grease Band for Cordell acquit yourself a London studio.

He next moved to London with Chris Stainton, and the Grease Have to was dissolved. Cordell set Humour up with a residency esteem the Marquee Club in Author, and a "new" Grease Crowd was formed with Stainton delighted keyboardist Tommy Eyre.

In 1968, Humour found commercial success with clean rearrangement of "With a Miniature Help from My Friends", choice Beatles song, which, many days later, was used as nobleness opening theme for The Sight Years.

The recording features motion guitar from Jimmy Page, worn out by B. J. Wilson, approval vocals from Sue and Polite, and Tommy Eyre on medium. The single remained in description top ten of the UK Singles Chart for thirteen weeks before eventually reaching number twofold, on 9 November 1968. Going away also reached number 68 snatch the US charts.

The new expeditions line-up of Cocker's Grease Procession featured Henry McCullough on usher guitar, who would go evolve to briefly play with McCartney's Wings.

After touring the UK with the Who in taking 1968^[19] and Gene Pitney coupled with Marmalade in early winter 1969, the Grease Band embarked assail their first tour of integrity US in spring 1969. Cocker's album With a Little Support from My Friends was loose soon after their arrival take precedence made number 35 on prestige American charts, eventually going gold.

During his US tour, Cocker impressed at several large festivals, counting the Newport Rock Festival become peaceful the Denver Pop Festival.

Reap August, Denny Cordell heard take the planned concert in Woodstock, New York and convinced thinker Artie Kornfeld to book Mollycoddle and the Grease Band buy the Woodstock Festival. The embassy had to be flown walkout the festival by helicopter claim to the large crowds. They performed several songs, including "Feelin' Alright?", "Something's Comin' On", "Let's Go Get Stoned", "I Shall Be Released" and "With on the rocks Little Help from My Friends".

Cocker would later say think about it the experience was "like bully eclipse ... it was a observe special day."

Directly after Woodstock, Spoil released his second album, Joe Cocker! Impressed by his variant of "With a Little Support from My Friends", Paul Songwriter and George Harrison allowed Coddle to use their songs "She Came In Through the Lav Window" and "Something" for justness album.

Recorded during a current in touring in the arise and summer, the album reached number 11 on the Appalling charts and garnered a subordinate UK hit with the City Russell song, "Delta Lady".^{[citation needed]}

In August 1969, Cocker performed suffer the Isle of Wight Fete at Wootton Bridge, Isle blond Wight, England.^[23] Throughout 1969 good taste was featured on variety Telly shows like The Ed Host Show and This Is Put your feet up Jones.

Onstage, he exhibited in particular idiosyncratic physical intensity, flailing emperor arms and playing air bass. At the end of righteousness year Cocker was unwilling exchange embark on another US rope, so he dissolved the Stain Band.^{[citation needed]}

Mad Dogs & Englishmen (1970–1971)

Despite Cocker's reluctance to involvement out on the road come again, an American tour had before now been booked so he abstruse to quickly form a newborn band in order to accomplish his contractual obligations.

It dependable to be a large congregation of more than 20 musicians, including pianist and bandleader City Russell, three drummers – Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, and Eats Blackwell, and backing vocalists Rita Coolidge and Claudia Lennear. Denny Cordell christened the new have to "Mad Dogs & Englishmen", rearguard the Noël Coward song pounce on the same name (with corruption refrain, "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noontime sun").

Cocker's music evolved long-drawn-out a more bluesy type go with rock, comparable to that magnetize the Rolling Stones.^[24]

During the subsequent Mad Dogs & Englishmen materialize (later described by drummer Jim Keltner as "a big, undomesticated party"), Cocker toured 48 cities, recorded a live album, direct received positive reviews from Time and Life for his move.

However, the pace of rectitude tour was exhausting. Russell skull Cocker had personal problems; Spoil became depressed and began consumption excessively as the tour apartment block down in May 1970. Rest period, he enjoyed several chart entries in the United States coworker cover versions of "Feelin' Alright" (originally recorded by Traffic) shaft "Cry Me a River".^{[citation needed]}

His version of the Box Tops' hit "The Letter", which arised on the live album obtain film, Mad Dogs & Englishmen, became his first US Heraldic sign Ten hit.

After spending many months in Los Angeles, Baby returned home to Sheffield, swivel his family became increasingly unsettled with his deteriorating physical instruct mental health. In the season of 1971, A&M Records free the single "High Time Surprise Went". This became a confrontation, reaching number 22 on authority US Billboard Hot 100 order, but was not issued instruct an album until November 1972 on the Joe Cocker album.^{[citation needed]}

On the road (1972–1979)

In awkward 1972, after nearly two time eon away from music, Cocker went on tour with a agency that Chris Stainton had baculiform.

He opened with a close watch in Madison Square Garden which was attended by about 20,000 people. After touring the Mutual States, he embarked on copperplate European tour where he awkward to large audiences in Metropolis and Germany. He then reciprocal to the United States tend another tour in autumn 1972. During these tours the category cut the songs that would be part of his in vogue album, Joe Cocker.

A quietude of live songs and mill recordings, the album peaked go on doing number 30 on the Disdainful charts.

In October 1972, when Spaniel toured Australia, he and shock wave members of his entourage were arrested in Adelaide for title of marijuana.^[27] The next allot, in Melbourne, assault charges were laid after a brawl disagree with the Commodore Chateau Hotel,^[28] stand for the Australian Federal Police gave Cocker 48 hours to certainty the country.

This caused enormous public outcry in Australia, brand Cocker was a high-profile outside artist and had a resonant support base, especially among interpretation baby boomers who were take care of age and able strengthen vote for the first time and again. It sparked hefty debate upturn the use and legalisation signal your intention marijuana in Australia, and gained Cocker the nickname "the Like crazy Dog".

Shortly after the Australian thread, Stainton retired from his harmony career to establish his swab recording studio.

After his friend's departure and his estrangement immigrant his longtime producer Denny Cordell, Cocker sank into depression nearby began using heroin. In June 1973, he kicked the custom but continued to drink heavily.

At the end of 1973, Mollycoddle returned to the studio brave record a new album, I Can Stand a Little Rain. The album, released in Esteemed 1974, was number 11 level the US charts and amity single, a recording of Consortium Preston's "You Are So Beautiful", reached the number 5 scent.

Despite positive reviews for goodness album, Cocker struggled with outlast performances, largely due to emperor problems with alcohol. One specified instance was reported in straighten up 1974 issue of Rolling Stone, which said that during join West Coast performances in Oct of that year he threw up onstage.^[32]

In January 1975, be active released a second album range had been recorded at authority same time as I Get close Stand a Little Rain, Jamaica Say You Will.

To flipside his new album, Cocker embarked on another tour of Continent, made possible by the country's new Labor government. In disapprove of 1975, he contributed vocals peter out a number of the imprints on Bo Diddley's The Twentieth Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll all-star album. He also filmed a new album in exceptional Kingston, Jamaica studio, Stingray.

Banish, record sales were disappointing; blue blood the gentry album reached only number 70 on the US charts.

In Haw 1976, Cocker headlined an 11-date tour of Canada, and endorsement 2 October, Cocker performed "Feelin' Alright" on Saturday Night Live. John Belushi joined him onstage doing his famous impersonation designate Cocker's stage movements.

At rendering time, Cocker was $800,000 bring to fruition debt to A&M Records present-day struggling with alcoholism. Several months later, he met producer Archangel Lang, who agreed to supervise him on the condition zigzag he stay sober. With out new band, Cocker embarked nationstate a tour of New Seeland, Australia and South America.

Purify then recorded a new textbook with session work by Steve Gadd and Chuck Rainey, leading a new, young bassist differ Scotland, Rob Hartley. Hartley further toured briefly with Cocker's house in 1977. In the accept diminish of 1978, Cocker toured Northernmost America promoting his album, Luxury You Can Afford.

Despite that effort, it received mixed reviews, selling around 300,000 copies.

In 1979, Cocker joined the "Woodstock nondescript Europe" tour, which featured musicians like Arlo Guthrie and Richie Havens who had played mad the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Proscribed also performed in New York's Central Park to an assemblage of 20,000 people. The complaint was recorded and released orang-utan the live album, Live deliver New York.

1980s (1980-1989)

In 1982, Mollycoddle recorded two songs with goodness jazz group the Crusaders endorse their album Standing Tall.

Suspend song, "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today", was timetabled for a Grammy Award topmost Cocker performed it with position Crusaders at the awards commemoration. The Crusaders wrote this express with Cocker in mind run sing it. Cocker then unfastened a new reggae-influenced album, Sheffield Steel, recorded with the Measure Point All Stars, produced infant Chris Blackwell and Alex Sadkin.^{[citation needed]}

Also in 1982, Cocker canned the duet "Up Where Amazement Belong" with Jennifer Warnes edgy the soundtrack of the release An Officer and a Gentleman.

The song was an worldwide hit, reaching number 1 surfeit the Billboard Hot 100, very last winning a Grammy Award financial assistance Best Pop Performance by marvellous Duo. The duet also won an Academy Award for Outrun Original Song, and Cocker duct Warnes performed the song condescension the awards ceremony.^{[citation needed]} Some days later, he was gratifying to perform "You Are Like so Beautiful" with Ray Charles listed a television tribute to justness musician.

In 1983, Cocker united a star-studded line-up of Island musicians, including Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood and Bill Wyman for songster Ronnie Lane's 1983 tour combat raise money for the London-based organisation Action for Research lift Multiple Sclerosis, in particular thanks to Lane was beginning to sadden from the degenerative disease.^[36]

While last part another tour that year, Cosset was arrested by Austrian boys in blue after refusing to perform in that of inadequate sound equipment.

Influence charges were eventually dropped scold Cocker was released. Shortly end the incident, he released consummate ninth studio album, Civilized Man. His next album Cocker was dedicated to his mother, Madge, who died when he was recording in the studio date producer Terry Manning. A path from the album, "You Stare at Leave Your Hat On" was featured in the 1986 single 9½ Weeks.

The album ultimately went Platinum on the Continent charts. His song "Love Lives On" was featured in glory 1987 film Harry and rectitude Hendersons.^[39] His 1987 album Unchain My Heart was nominated obey a Grammy Award, although diplomatic did not win.

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One Night of Sin was also a commercial success, exceptional Unchain My Heart in sale and yielding his final Ascendance 20 hit in the Pooled States, "When The Night Comes", written by Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance and Diane Warren mosey peaked at number 11 populate January 1990.^{[citation needed]}

Throughout the Decennary, Cocker continued to tour muck about the world, playing to crackdown audiences in Europe, Australia weather the United States.

In 1986, he met the Italian cantor Zucchero Fornaciari, who dedicated swell song (Nuovo, meraviglioso amico, leisure pursuit Rispetto) to the English bluesman. After that Cocker took vicinity in some concerts of loftiness promotional tours for the albums Blue's (1987) and Oro Incenso & Birra (1989). In 1988, he performed at London's Sovereign august Albert Hall and appeared supervision The Tonight Show.

After Barclay James Harvest and Bob Vocaliser, Cocker was the first be given give rock concerts in influence German Democratic Republic, in Accustom Berlin and Dresden. The locale, the Blüherwiese, next to goodness Rudolf–Harbig–Stadion, bears the vernacular label Cockerwiese ('Cocker meadow') today.^[41] Noteworthy also performed for US Chief honcho George H.

W. Bush shell an inauguration concert in 1989.^[42]

Later career (1990-2014)

In 1992, Cocker's anecdote of Bryan Adams' "Feels Regard Forever" made the UK Refrain from 40. Also in 1992, Spoil teamed with Canadian rocker Brazenness Jordan to sing "Trust break off Me", which was featured darling The Bodyguard soundtrack.

At greatness 1993 Brit Awards, Cocker was nominated for British Male 1 Artist.^[2] Cocker performed the Sat opening set at Woodstock '94 as one of the bloody alumni who played at righteousness original Woodstock Festival in 1969 and was well received.^[44]

On 3 June 2002, Cocker performed "With A Little Help From Ill at ease Friends" accompanied by Phil Writer on drums and Queen musician Brian May at the Element at the Palace concert injure the grounds of Buckingham Residence, an event in commemoration confiscate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II.^[45] In 2007, Cocker arrived playing minor characters in illustriousness film Across the Universe, makeover the lead singer on other Beatles' hit, "Come Together",^[46] Mollycoddle was awarded an OBE skull the Queen's 2007 Birthday Laurels list for services to music.^[3] To celebrate receiving his accolade in mid December 2007, Baby played two concerts in Writer and in his home vicinity of Sheffield where he was awarded a bronze Sheffield Legends plaque outside Sheffield Town Hall.^[47]

In April and May 2009, Coddle conducted a North American outing in support of his sticker album Hymn for My Soul.

Dirt sang the vocals on "Little Wing" for the Carlos Santana album, Guitar Heaven: The Unbeatable Guitar Classics of All Time, released on 21 September 2010. In the autumn of 2010, Cocker toured Europe promoting coronate studio album Hard Knocks.^{[citation needed]}

In 2000, Cocker was the initiation act in select cities misrepresent the United States and Collection for Tina Turner's Twenty Unite Seven Tour.

He returned strut Australia in 2008 and carry on in 2011, the latter execute which featured George Thorogood ray the Destroyers as an air act.^[48]

On 20 March 2011, Indulge took part in a gain concert for Cornell Dupree mad B.B. King's Blues Club detainee New York City. Dupree influenced on four Cocker albums: I Can Stand A Little Rain (1974), Jamaica Say You Will (1975), Stingray (1976) and Luxury You Can Afford (1978).

Dupree's band Stuff was also Cocker's backing band on a progress promoting Stingray in 1976.^{[citation needed]}

Cocker kept recording and touring roundabouts his later years. 2012's Fire it up, which would translation out to be Cocker's rearmost studio album, was followed infant an extensive tour, consisting close a US leg in 2012 and a European run unswervingly 2013.

He played 25 shows in Germany alone on illustriousness European leg of the silhouette, which reflects the popularity Coddle enjoyed there.^[49] The full come across of 22 April at Cologne's Lanxess Arena was recorded pole released on CD and DVD under the title Fire flux up Live later in 2013. The last concert on leadership tour, which was to credit to Cocker's final live performance, was at the Loreley Open Outstretched Theatre in Sankt Goarshausen be about to happen 7 September 2013.^{[citation needed]}

Tributes endure acclaim

In 1994, fellow Yorkshire maestro Philip Oakey, on behalf obey his group, the Human Friend, said that Cocker was their "hero".^[50]

The two remaining living ex-Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Drummer, were among those who stipendiary tribute to the singer masses his death, while Cocker's delegate, Barrie Marshall, said that Coddle was "without doubt the leading rock/soul singer ever to approach out of Britain".^[51] McCartney commented:

He was a lovely boreal lad who I loved trim lot and, like many citizens, I loved his singing.

Frenzied was especially pleased when flair decided to cover 'With dexterous Little Help from My Friends' and I remember him stream (producer) Denny Cordell coming circumnavigate to the studio in Savile Row (central London) and demeanour me what they'd recorded celebrated it was just mind-blowing, entirely turned the song into top-notch soul anthem and I was forever grateful to him backer doing that.^[51]

On 11 September 2015, a "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" tribute concert to Joe Cosset was performed at the Lockn' Festival featuring Tedeschi Trucks Bandeau, Chris Stainton, Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, Claudia Lennear, Pamela Polland, Doyle Bramhall II, Dave Histrion, John Bell, Warren Haynes skull Chris Robinson, among others.

Birth commemoration,^[52] a Joe Cocker Crazed Dogs and Englishmen Memory Whole was created by Linda Devil to celebrate the event.^[53] Magnify late 2021, the feature-length docudrama Learning to Live Together was released documenting the reunion concurrence.

In 2017, a feature-length movie film about Cocker titled Joe Cocker: Mad Dog with Soul was released.^[54]

Accolades

Personal life and death

In 1963, Cocker began dating Eileen Webster, also a resident designate Sheffield.

The couple dated ad at intervals for the next 13 years.^[58]

In 1978, Cocker moved onto simple ranch owned by Jane Histrion in Santa Barbara, California. Pam Baker, a local summer camp-site director and fan of Cocker's music, had persuaded the player to lend the house want Cocker. Baker began dating Featherbed, and they married on 11 October 1987.

While performing a harmony at Madison Square Garden review 17 September 2014, fellow obtrude musician Billy Joel stated go off Cocker was "not very be a success right now" and endorsed Cosset for induction into the Vibrate and Roll Hall of Renown before his tribute performance emblematic "With a Little Help deprive My Friends".^[60] Cocker died differ lung cancer on 22 Dec 2014 in Crawford, Colorado orderly the age of 70.^[1][61][62] Noteworthy had smoked two packs have a hold over cigarettes a day until of course quit in 1991.^[63]

Discography

Main article: Joe Cocker discography

Studio albums

Citations

General sources

• Bean, Statesman P.

  (2003). Joe Cocker: Say publicly Authorised Biography. London: Virgin Books. ISBN .

• Logan, Nick; Woffinden, Bob (1975). The New Musical Express Emergency supply of Rock. Star Books. ISBN .

Further reading

External links