Artists

Joe Cocker

b. John Robert Cocker, 20 May 1944, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. The capricious but brilliant Cocker is felt by many to be the finest white soul singer Britain has yet produced. His rollercoaster career started in 1961 with a little-known local band the Cavaliers, who changed their name to the clumsier Vance Arnold And The Avengers and became known as a warm-up for big names such as the Hollies during the beat boom of 1963. Joe was spotted and offered a one single deal by Decca. This excellent record, a cover of the Beatles 'I'll Cry Instead' failed to sell and he was dropped. The sturdy Cocker refused to give in and formed the first Grease Band in 1966, comprising Vernon Nash (piano), Dave Memmott (drums), Frank Myles (guitar) and his future musical partner Chris Stainton (bass). After two years of solid club gigs building a reputation, they were rewarded with a recording session; however, only Cocker and Stainton were needed and the rest of the band were told to stay at home. The single 'Marjorine' was a minor hit and Cocker and Stainton assembled a new Grease Band with Mickey Gee (guitar), Tommy Reilly (drums) and Tommy Eyre (keyboards). Once again a session was arranged; this time Gee and Reilly were banished. The resulting single took an age to record with session musicians including Jimmy Page and B.J. Wilson. The single, John Lennon and Paul McCartney's 'With A Little Help From My Friends', went straight to the top of the UK charts in 1968. This tour de force features the finest bloodcurdling scream on record, and 25 years later, was still a turntable hit.

The Grease Band had now enlisted the talented guitarist Henry McCullough (ex- Eire Apparent ) who was able to copy Page's solo admirably. The band recorded their debut album with assistance from Steve Winwood and Jimmy Page and although it failed to chart in the UK it was a hit in the USA. Cocker and his band started touring America in 1969, and became huge stars through exposure on the Ed Sullivan Show and constant performing. The highlight of that year was Cocker's performance at the Woodstock Festival. Few would deny that Cocker was one of the stars of the event; his astonishing delivery of 'With A Little Help From My Friends' is captured on the film of the festival. Joe stayed in the USA for many months. By the end of 1969 he had a further two hits with Dave Mason 's 'Feelin' Alright' and Leon Russell 's 'Delta Lady', together with another solid and successful albumJoe Cocker.

The 70s began with the famous Mad Dogs And Englishmen tour. Over 60 dates were played in as many days. A subsequent film and double album were released, although it was reported that Cocker was bankrupted by the whole charade. He then slid into a drink-and-drug stupor that lasted through most of the decade. Such was his stamina that he still regularly performed and continued to have hit records in America. In the UK he was largely forgotten apart form a loyal core of fans. He was deported from Australia during a 1972 tour, and was often so drunk onstage he was barely able to perform, even after throwing up in front of the audience. In the recording studio he was still able to find some magic and among the highlights of his catalogue of hits were Gregg Allman 's 'Midnight Rider', 'You Are So Beautiful' and 'Put Out The Light'. His albums were patchy with only I Can Stand A Little Rain (1974) being totally satisfying. Amazingly, he survived the decade, and apart from a minor hit guesting with the Crusaders on 'I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today', little was heard from him until 1982. It was stated that it took two years for the alcohol to drain out of his body, but true or not, a thinner, older Cocker was seen promoting his best album for years, the critically well-received Sheffield Steel . Despite the plaudits, commercially the album was a comparative failure. Cocker had little time to worry about its dismal showing for within weeks he was back at the top of the US charts duetting with Jennifer Warnes with the soundtrack to the film An Officer And A Gentlemen. The song 'Up Where We Belong' also restored him to the UK singles chart in 1983 after an absence of 13 years. He celebrated it with a belated return to his home town for a memorable concert. Civilized Man was another disappointment but while his albums are less successful, his live performances are electrifying. His most satisfying recent album was Unchain My Heart ; Cocker's interpretation of his mentor Ray Charles' classic was released as a single but was only a moderate hit. Night Calls contained the Bryan Adams song 'Feels Like Forever' and interesting Cocker reworkings of the Beatles' 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away' and Blind Faith 's 'Can't Find My Way Home'. A strong publicity campaign was behind his anniversary tour in 1994; it was fortunate that the tour was accompanied by his best album in years, Have A Little Faith . It was preceded by 'The Simple Things' and further hit singles poured forth as the album scaled the charts in most countries. A sympathetic television documentary in 1994 portrayed a shy but very together human being. A wiser and sober Cocker continues into the 90s with his amazing voice intact and a constitution as strong as Sheffield steel. He paid tribute to himself in 1996 with Organic , an album containing many remakes from his catalogue. This further emphasized his great ear for a good songwriter, regardless of a song's chart placing. Prime examples are Winwood's 'Cant Find My Way Back Home, Billy Preston 's 'You Are So Beautiful' and John Sebastian 's 'Darlin' Be Home Soon'. Cocker could sing the alphabet and make it sound exciting.