We have some sad news to report. Singer Joe Cocker has died at 70 years old due to an undisclosed illness, his agent, Barrie Marshall, confirmed to BBC News. Reportedly, Cocker was said to be battling lung cancer, but that has yet to be confirmed. Cocker, a highly-recognized British rocker, was known for his Beatles' cover "With a Little Help from My Friends," which later on became The Wonder Years theme song. His other smash hit included the 1982 song "Up Where We Belong" with Jennifer Warnes from An Officer and a Gentleman.
Cocker was born in 1944 in Sheffield and made quite the mark on the music industry. From performing at Woodstock in 1969 to scoring 19 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 to winning his only Grammy for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal for his duet with Warnes, Cocker embodied the musical gene.
His other hits included, which made the top 40 charts, "You Are So Beautiful," "When the Night Comes," "Feeling Alright," and "The Letter," with Leon Russell and The Shelter People. You might also remember his song "You Can Leave Your Hat On," written by Randy Newman, which became a hit in 1986 thanks to the film Nine 1/2 Weeks, starring Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke.
Cocker's agent describes him as "simply unique" and says "it will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts." Let's take a moment to honor Cocker, his amazing talent, and his memory. Here are a few of his many songs that he'll always be remembered for.
