| Rock musician Date of Birth: 20.05.1944 Country: Great Britain |
Joe Cocker, a rock musician, would have turned 74 years old in May 2018. Starting his challenging creative journey in the late 60s, he stood out in fierce artistic competition, battling with the ups and downs of life and the deceitful entertainment industry that disappointed him upon their first encounter. As a subject of Queen Elizabeth II, Cocker easily conquered the entire European continent and both Americas, establishing himself as one of the greatest rock stars of modern times.
John Robert Cocker was born in Sheffield, England. His father, a civil servant, provided him with a secondary education and the freedom to choose his own path. John chose to work as a gas fitter's apprentice during the day and performed in pubs at night. Changing his work clothes to a dark suit and bowtie, the aspiring musician took the stage under the name Vance Arnold and sang popular pop, soul, and blues songs. His favorite numbers included Ray Charles' "What'd I Say" and "Georgia on My Mind." The backing musicians accompanying John called themselves The Avengers.
The turning point for Arnold-Cocker and his band came in 1963 when they played a set at the Sheffield City Hall before a Rolling Stones concert. According to witnesses, Vance Arnold and his company looked very convincing. This marked the birth of a new artist in England, known as Joe Cocker. In 1964, he quietly debuted with the single "I'll Cry Instead," a cover of The Beatles. With a new backing band, Joe Cocker Big Blues, the singer set out to meet the public. He started with English audiences in the north of Great Britain, then moved on to European audiences in the French provinces and US Air Force bases in France. American military personnel, mostly from southern states, warmly welcomed the British vocalist. The French called him the "little Ray Charles." Unfortunately, their return to England was marked by a tragic incident where the stage collapsed during one of their concerts. Although the artists escaped with bruises and a slight fright, it left a deep impression on the frontman. The overall atmosphere within the band was also not optimistic. In fact, after this concert, Joe Cocker Big Blues disbanded. Cocker remained silent for a whole year, not performing, recording, or seeking new musicians. Progress was only made when Chris Stainton entered his life, whom Joe later referred to as the greatest musician in the world. Together with Chris, they formed an excellent band called The Grease Band. They sent their first demo recordings to Denny Cordell, the producer for The Moody Blues and Procol Harum, to introduce themselves. Cordell was very impressed with Cocker's vocal style and arranged for him to perform regularly at the famous London club, "The Marquee." This was in 1968. Over the next year, Joe Cocker transformed from a promising blues-rock performer to a British rock star, step by step. His first major hit in his solo career, the leader of the British charts, was the single "A Little Help From My Friends," another Beatles cover (cover versions played a significant role in the musician's career, but more on that later). Six months later, Joe Cocker became known in America. Regardless of the many local concerts they performed, what made a lasting impact was their appearance on the famous Ed Sullivan Show. The singer amazed the audience with his raspy voice and expressive behavior. The press's reaction to Cocker's live performance, as well as his two first albums, "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Joe Cocker!", released in the USA, was ambiguous, but no one could deny his original talent. Especially since he was accompanied by excellent musicians, including guitarists Jimmy Page and Albert Lee. A reviewer for Life magazine characteristically described Cocker's image as "the voice of all blind beggars, crazy beggars, and unfortunate cripples who roam the streets. Cocker expresses what is happening in their souls, what nobody knows about, what they themselves could never articulate." Of course, Joe Cocker never sang on the streets, and by the time he received such compliments, he had already started performing at major rock festivals. His triumphant performance on the stage of the legendary Woodstock in front of half a million viewers in 1969, where the artist allowed himself a few bold actions, was recorded. In 1970, Cocker released the album "Mad Dogs and Englishmen." When writing these songs, he claimed he had his thoughts floating somewhere in the heavens, on Venus, in open space. This double album, which has been reissued several times, remains a superb example of blues-rock and soft rock from the early 70s. The accompanying tour, held together with his constant producer and arranger Leon Russell, turned into a wild race through 48 cities, which the musicians covered in 56 days. Another 40 people joined them on the road - managers, road technicians, wives or girlfriends, children, support staff, camera crews, and even beloved dogs. Cocker's performances were a success almost everywhere they went. However, their return to the final destination, Los Angeles, felt like waking up after a long hangover. The singer woke up exhausted, worn out, and, in his own words, "completely disappointed with the music business." Although there were pleasant moments. In just 1970 alone, his records earned him a three-million-dollar income in America. All three of Joe Cocker's first albums became platinum, and Playboy magazine named him the number one vocalist when summarizing the year's music. The singer's first American hit was the cover version of Box Tops' "The Letter," which reached the top ten. This was the peak of his popularity in the United States. The 70s were not the best period in the artist's life, despite the positive start. New albums were released quite regularly: "Joe Cocker" (1973), "I Can Stand a Little Rain" (1974), "Jamaica Say You Will" (1975), "Stingray" (1976), "Luxury You Can Afford" (1978). It was during this time that Cocker released his most famous songs, such as "You Are So Beautiful," "Guilty," and "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress," which became his classic works. In particular, the romantic ballad "You Are So Beautiful" returned his name to the top of the world's charts in 1975. This song replaced another popular Cocker single in the American top five, "It's a Sin When You Love Somebody." However, the rest of his life was overshadowed by gloomy tones. The singer was left without a recording contract, and he faced the threat of alcoholism. Alcohol not only destroyed his personal life but also hindered his work. There were times when he went on stage already well inebriated. With the beginning of the 80s, Cocker's life gradually began to return to normal. After a five-year hiatus, he prepared an interesting collection of new material called "Sheffield Steel" in 1982. As a first-class interpreter of blues-rock and soft rock, he presented vibrant cover versions of Randy Newman's "Marie" and a lesser-known Bob Dylan track, "Seven Days." His duet with Jennifer Warnes, "Up Where We Belong," which was featured in the film "An Officer and a Gentleman," was nominated for an Academy Award. The song gained international popularity and became Cocker's first number one hit in America. It also made him the center of attention at the Grammy Awards, winning the award for "Best Pop Vocal Performance." By the end of the decade, four more studio albums were released: "Civilized Man" (1984), "Cocker" (1986), "Unchain My Heart" (1987), and "One Night of Sin" (1989), which included the hit "When the Night Comes," written by Bryan Adams. Although American music lovers received these releases somewhat lukewarmly, they all achieved platinum status in the UK and were well-received by Europeans. Cocker's career saw a significant resurgence in the late 80s when The Crusaders invited him to perform a song written specifically for him, "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today." The lyrics of the song almost literally expressed his experience and what he had been through. When Cocker performed this song at the Grammy Awards ceremony in February 1992, the audience gave him a standing ovation. It was as if Joe Cocker had gone through a rebirth. He received tremendous support from his new partner, Pam, who became his wife in 1987. In 1991, the singer recorded Elton John's hit song, "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," for the tribute album to John and Bernie Taupin, "Two Rooms." The album sold three million copies worldwide. Cocker's next album, "Night Calls" (1992), became gold in the USA and achieved platinum certification in many European countries, primarily due to the title track, written by Jeff Lynne. His following album, "Have a Little Faith" (1994), released on a new label, received high praise from critics but unfortunately did not receive the necessary promotional support. It was largely ignored by the mass audience. His albums in 1996 and 1997, "Organic" and "Across from Midnight," were also not particularly memorable. One of Cocker's main creative problems was relying on other people's material; the majority of his recordings were cover versions. However, it is still remarkable to sustain a career for over 30 years on the international stage solely through the interpretation of other people's songs.
Cocker, with his distinctive raspy vocals, which had slightly lost their color due to his battle with alcoholism, was eagerly sought after by film producers. His songs were featured in movies such as "Harry and the Hendersons," "Bull Durham," and "An Innocent Man." However, his most famous song became the music for the striptease scene in the film "9 1/2 Weeks" - "You Can Leave Your Hat On."
In the 90s, Cocker ventured into investments, not only in the music business but also in other industries. In the town of Crawford, Colorado, where he settled with his family, the artist owns a bakery, a cafe, a conference hall, a supermarket, and several other shops.
The beginning of the 21st century found Joe Cocker, as always, hard at work. Within five years, he released three studio albums: "No Ordinary World" (2000), "Respect Yourself" (2002), and "Heart & Soul" (2004), as well as the compilation album "Definitive Collection" (2002). In recent years, Joe has been touring extensively, accumulating numerous awards and accolades. Notable concerts featuring Cocker include the Princes Trust Gala, held under the patronage of the British royal family, a concert in honor of Nelson Mandela's birthday, and a grand show in Berlin commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall. In America, which has become his second home, he performed at the presidential inauguration ceremony of George Bush.
Cocker was one of the few Woodstock "veterans" to perform (and succeed) at Woodstock '94. The little-known song, "Woman to Woman," by Cocker, was revamped by rap producer Dr. Dre for Tupac Shakur in the hit "California Love," which reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996 and was included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." In 2011, Cocker performed at the X International Investment Forum in Sochi.
In 2002, Cocker (alongside Phil Collins and Brian May) performed at the celebration ceremony for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, singing "With a Little Help from My Friends."
In his final years, Cocker battled illness. In September 2014, Billy Joel announced from the stage that Cocker's health was unsatisfactory. He passed away on December 22, 2014, from lung cancer in Crawford, Colorado, where he lived on a secluded ranch with his wife.
On September 11, 2015, as part of the Lockn' festival, the Tedeschi Trucks Band held a tribute concert in honor of Joe Cocker and his "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" tour, with the participation of many of the original members.
Joe Cocker's legacy includes a vast collection of awards and honors. Despite various challenges throughout his career, his distinctive voice and passionate performances have left an indelible mark on the music industry.