Joe Cocker, OBE (dob 20 May 1944/Sheffield, England) is an English rock/blues musician, composer and actor who came to popularity in the 60s most known for his gritty voice, idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and cover versions of popular songs that bring a lot to the material... especially those of The Beatles and Feeling Alright by Dave Mason.
He is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his song "Up Where We Belong", a duet which he performed with Jennifer Warnes. He was ranked #97 on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers list...
Cocker's main musical influences growing up were Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan. Right after Woodstock, Cocker released his second album, Joe Cocker!
Impressed by his cover of With A Little Help From my Friends, Paul McCartney and George Harrison allowed Cocker to use their songs She Came in Through the Bathroom Window and Something for the album. Recorded during a break in touring in the spring and summer, the album reached #11 on the US charts and garnered a second UK hit with the Leon Russell song, Delta Lady (featured below).
Impressed by his cover of With A Little Help From my Friends, Paul McCartney and George Harrison allowed Cocker to use their songs She Came in Through the Bathroom Window and Something for the album. Recorded during a break in touring in the spring and summer, the album reached #11 on the US charts and garnered a second UK hit with the Leon Russell song, Delta Lady (featured below).
Throughout 1969 he was featured on variety TV shows, such as The Ed Sullivan Show and This Is Tom Jones. Onstage, he exhibited an idiosyncratic physical intensity, flailing his arms and playing air guitar, occasionally giving superfluous cues to his band.
In 1978, Cocker moved onto a ranch owned by Jane Fonda in Santa Barbara, CA. Pam Baker, a local summer camp director and fan of Cocker's music convinced the actress to rent the house to Cocker. Baker began dating Cocker and they eventually married on 11 October 1987. The couple currently reside on the Mad Dog Ranch in Crawford, Colorado...
Joe Cocker: Delta Lady- 1969