Cocker Joe, an English singer, was born May 20, 1944 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. He is the patriarch of English pop music, from 1960 to the present he works in the genre of blues, soul and rock. The main advantage over other performers is a low hoarse voice that fits well in blues compositions.
Joe Cocker's family lived poorly, the young man had to drop out of school and go to work. He got a job as an assistant to the railroad tracks, and in the evenings disappeared in Sheffield's pubs, trying to break into the field of blues performances. Throughout the concert career, Joe Cocker had only one problem - the lack of a repertoire. The singer had no connections with composers and did not communicate with management in show business. He simply rehashed popular hits, and so he lived. From Ray Charles, Cocker borrowed Unchain My Heart and What'd I Say, and Beatles took I'll Cry Instead.
First successes
Everyone knew the pirate habits of Joe Cocker, but since he performed songs professionally, not sparing money for arrangements, no one made any complaints to him. On the contrary, the owners of the hits encouraged the work of Cocker, as popular songs sung by them sounded in a new way, and their rating increased. Sometimes Joe even managed to replay the original performance. For example, Ray Charles Char's 1963 Unchain My Heart, made by the author in the style of pure soul, Cocker Joe released in his version in 2002 at a concert in Cologne, Germany. He gave the composition a classic eight-beat blues move with a good syncopated accent, and the song sounded a new way. And although Joe Cocker does not have such luxurious backing vocals as Ray Charles did (he had two girls with a conservative education), but in general, the version of Cocker was a success.
Touring
1966 was the beginning of the singer's active performances. Joe Cocker, whose biography was then replenished with a new page, organized the Grease Band and performed at several venues in Sheffield, then traveled to northern England with concerts. The repertoire was mainly blues, and as the first performances showed, the singer made the right choice, since the audience always welcomes blues compositions favorably. And where is the blues, there is the beloved boogie-woogie. In addition to blues, Cocker Joe performed famous Beatles songs, which also helped to increase his popularity. And when in 1968, the Grease Band recorded their version of the Beatle hit With A Little Help, the group reached a wide level of recognition, and the song won first place in the national hit parade.
In March 1969, Cocker Joe and the band went on their first US tour. In the same 1969, in August, the group performed at the Woodstock festival, and in 1970, Joe Cocker toured again in the United States. This time the concerts were held in 48 cities.
Decline
The seventies became a difficult period in the singer’s life, the repertoire did not work out in any way, and it was more and more difficult to make tour agreements on other people's hits. Out of hopelessness, Joe Cocker began to drink, and then became addicted to drugs. Gradually, he began to lose control of himself, often stepping on the stage in drinking. The musicians endured for some time, and then gradually began to leave their patron.
The lifebelt for Joe Cocker was The Crusaders, who invited the singer to perform the song I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today, written specifically for him, under his voice. By pure chance, the content of the song exactly repeated the history of the decline of Cocker, with all the emotions and losses.
Rebirth
The singer seemed to try on the plot of this issue, as if he was born again and believed in himself. Cocker's new close friend, Pam, who appeared with him during that difficult period of his life, also played a role. In a few years she will become Joe's wife. The situation gradually improved, Joe Cocker, photo which again appeared in glossy magazines, stopped drinking, his work became in demand, the audience welcomed his idol.