Joe Cocker was a British singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances.
Cocker's first public singing experience was at age 12 when he performed with his brother's skiffle group.
He gained fame after his performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, which showcased his unique style.
Biography
Early Life
John Robert "Joe" Cocker was born on May 20, 1944, in Sheffield, England. He was the youngest son of Harold Norman Cocker, a civil servant, and Madge Lee. Growing up, Cocker was influenced by the music of Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan. His first public performance came at the age of 12 when he sang with his brother's skiffle group. In 1960, he formed his first band, the Cavaliers, before leaving school to work as a gasfitter while pursuing music.
Career
Cocker's musical journey began in earnest in 1961 when he adopted the stage name "Vance Arnold" and formed Vance Arnold and the Avengers, performing in local pubs. He gained significant attention in 1964 with his debut single, a cover of the Beatles' "I'll Cry Instead," but it failed to chart. After a brief hiatus, he formed the Grease Band in 1966, which led to his breakthrough performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Cocker became known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage presence, with hits like "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "Unchain My Heart."
Personal Life and Legacy
Cocker's personal life included a long-term relationship with Eileen Webster and later marriage to Pam Baker in 1987. He battled health issues later in life, ultimately succumbing to lung cancer on December 22, 2014. Cocker was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025, solidifying his legacy as a powerful voice in rock and blues music.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Het Beste Van Joe Cocker2004
Tracklist not collected yet.
Heart & Soul2004
- 1.What’s Going On5:14
- 2.Chain of Fools3:45
- 3.One4:34
- 4.I Who Have Nothing4:01
- 5.Maybe I’m Amazed3:23
- 6.I Keep Forgetting3:34
- 7.I Put a Spell on You4:32
- 8.Every Kind of People4:19
- 9.Love Don’t Live Here Anymore4:15
- 10.Don’t Let Me Be Lonely3:40
- 11.Jealous Guy4:07
- 12.Everybody Hurts5:21
Heroes & Friends2004
- 1.What's Going On5:12
- 2.Chain of Fools3:45
- 3.One4:33
- 4.I Who Have Nothing4:00
- 5.Maybe I'm Amazed3:23
- 6.I Keep Forgetting3:33
- 7.I Put a Spell on You4:31
- 8.Every Kind of People4:19
- 9.Love Don't Live Here Anymore4:14
- 10.Don't Let Me Be Lonely3:40
- 11.Jealous Guy4:06
- 12.Everybody Hurts5:20
Respect Yourself2002
- 1.You Can’t Have My Heart4:03
- 2.Love Not War4:02
- 3.You Took It So Hard4:29
- 4.Never Tear Us Apart4:05
- 5.This Is Your Life4:36
- 6.Respect Yourself5:16
- 7.I’m Listening Now5:03
- 8.Leave a Light On4:34
- 9.It’s Only Love3:57
- 10.Every Time It Rains3:36
- 11.Midnight Without You5:08
No Ordinary World1999
- 1.First We Take Manhattan3:45
- 2.Different Roads5:00
- 3.My Father’s Son4:30
- 4.While You See a Chance3:52
- 5.She Believes in Me4:45
- 6.No Ordinary World3:52
- 7.Where Would I Be Now5:28
- 8.Ain’t Gonna Cry Again4:07
- 9.Soul Rising3:58
- 10.Naked Without You4:32
- 11.Love to Lean On4:18
- 12.On My Way Home4:14
Across From Midnight1997
- 1.Tonight4:50
- 2.Could You Be Loved5:48
- 3.That’s All I Need to Know4:05
- 4.N’oubliez jamais4:43
- 5.What Do I Tell My Heart?5:01
- 6.Wayward Soul4:16
- 7.Loving You Tonight4:39
- 8.Across From Midnight4:58
- 9.What Do You Say?4:43
- 10.The Last One to Know3:31
- 11.That’s the Way Her Love Is2:44
- 12.Need Your Love So Bad5:21
Organic1996
- 1.Into the Mystic3:32
- 2.Bye Bye Blackbird3:31
- 3.Delta Lady3:17
- 4.Heart Full of Rain4:49
- 5.Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood3:52
- 6.Many Rivers to Cross4:24
- 7.High Lonesome Blue4:10
- 8.Sail Away3:01
- 9.You and I4:35
- 10.Darlin’ Be Home Soon4:11
- 11.Dignity3:14
- 12.You Can Leave Your Hat On3:46
- 13.You Are So Beautiful2:44
- 14.Can’t Find My Way Home3:53
Have a Little Faith1994
- 1.Let the Healing Begin5:11
- 2.Have a Little Faith in Me4:41
- 3.The Simple Things4:51
- 4.Summer in the City3:55
- 5.The Great Divide3:37
- 6.Highway Highway4:33
- 7.Too Cool4:45
- 8.Soul Time4:35
- 9.Out of the Blue3:48
- 10.Angeline4:32
- 11.Hell and Highwater4:13
- 12.Standing Knee Deep in a River4:09
- 13.Take Me Home4:24
Night Calls1991
- 1.Love Is Alive3:57
- 2.Little Bit of Love2:28
- 3.Please No More5:29
- 4.There’s a Storm Coming4:09
- 5.You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away5:03
- 6.I Can Hear the River4:52
- 7.Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me5:30
- 8.Night Calls3:28
- 9.Five Women5:35
- 10.Can’t Find My Way Home3:30
- 11.Not to Young to Die of a Broken Heart4:20
- 12.Out of the Rain4:38
One Night of Sin1989
- 1.When the Night Comes5:19
- 2.I Will Live for You4:10
- 3.Got to Use My Imagination4:25
- 4.Letting Go4:11
- 5.Just to Keep From Drowning4:40
- 6.Unforgiven3:29
- 7.Another Mind Gone4:45
- 8.Fever3:38
- 9.You Know It’s Gonna Hurt3:58
- 10.Bad Bad Sign4:09
- 11.I’m Your Man3:52
- 12.One Night of Sin3:13
Unchain My Heart1987
- 1.Unchain My Heart5:05
- 2.Two Wrongs4:04
- 3.I Stand in Wonder4:23
- 4.The River's Rising4:10
- 5.Isolation3:52
- 6.All Our Tomorrows4:24
- 7.A Woman Loves a Man4:16
- 8.Trust in Me4:15
- 9.The One4:37
- 10.Satisfied3:28
Cocker1986
- 1.Shelter Me5:41
- 2.A to Z4:20
- 3.Don’t You Love Me Anymore5:26
- 4.Living Without Your Love4:12
- 5.Don’t Drink the Water3:28
- 6.You Can Leave Your Hat On4:15
- 7.Heart of the Matter4:21
- 8.Inner City Blues5:53
- 9.Love Is on a Fade4:06
- 10.Heaven4:34
Civilized Man1984
Tracklist not collected yet.
Sheffield Steel1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
Luxury You Can Afford1978
Tracklist not collected yet.
Stingray1976
Tracklist not collected yet.
Jamaica Say You Will1975
Tracklist not collected yet.
I Can Stand a Little Rain1974
Tracklist not collected yet.
Joe Cocker1972
Tracklist not collected yet.
With a Little Help From My Friends1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Joe Cocker!1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Joe Cocker2022
Tracklist not collected yet.
Joe Cocker2022
Tracklist not collected yet.
Joe Cocker: Classic Hits2007
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Very Best Of Joe Cocker - The Voice1986
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Regal Zonophone
- Record label
- A&M Records
- Record label
- Capitol Records
- Record label
- Island Records
- Record label
- Decca
- Record label
- IL
- Record label
- Chrysalis Records
- Record label
- The Rocket Record Company
Achievements
- Award
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Groups
- Artists United for Naturecurrent
- Various Artists for Children’s Promisecurrent
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Cocker, Joe, Joe Cooker, Joe Crocker, John Robert Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were interpretations of songs written by others, such as "Feelin' Alright" and "Unchain My Heart", though Cocker composed original songs for most of his albums as well, often in conjunction with songwriting partner Chris Stainton.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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