The Truth About Joe Cocker (1944 - 2014) Joe Cocker Life Story In a musical career lasting more than 50 years, Joe Cocker bounced between the euphoria of chart-topping success and the misery of drug and alcohol abuse. In the latter part of his life, the singer had re-established himself as a soulful interpreter of material from a broad range of songwriters. Cocker’s background and upbringing in Sheffield, where he was born, son of Harold and Marjorie, established his credentials as a ballsy, salt-of-the-earth performer cut from stalwart working-class stock. At first it seemed as if the young Joe was destined for an unglamorous future working as a fitter for the East Midlands Gas Board. As his mother commented: “When Joe left school at 16, I thought he was going to take up gas fitting as a career. I even got him a lot of books on the subject, and he was interested in gas for a time, but there was always the music. He told me he didn’t want a job where he worked for years and years and then got presented with a gold watch at the end.” Cocker gained his first toehold in music with the aid of his brother, Victor. He sang with Victor’s band the Headliners at a local youth club, then later played drums in Victor’s skiffle group, the Cavaliers. By 1963, they were transformed into Vance Arnold & the Avengers. He took the opportunity to reinvent himself as the vocalist Cowboy Joe, as the Avengers played warm-up gigs for better known names such as the Hollies. He also made guest appearances with other local artists including Dave Berry and the Cruisers. Cocker was already beginning to develop the intense, raucous vocal style which would make him an international name, and he was spotted by the record producer Mike Leander, who helped him to make a demo recording. This earned him a contract with Decca records in 1964, for whom he made his debut on disc with a version of the Beatles tune I’ll Cry Instead. Despite Cocker’s convincing performance, the single failed to chart and the Decca contract lapsed. After touring as an opening act for Manfred Mann and the Hollies, Cocker reverted to his gas board job, persevering with music in his free time. He struck up a songwriting partnership with the bass player Chris Stainton and, in 1965, the pair put together the first incarnation of the Grease Band, which included the guitarists Henry McCullough and Alan Spenner. Two years of club and pub dates, mainly in northern England, earned the band a committed following. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Subscribe To The Remember This KZfaq Channel Here ► geni.us/RememberThisChannel ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 💥 History and Nostalgia Channel (20th Century History Documentaries)💥 Welcome to the Remember This KZfaq History and Nostalgia Channel where we discuss thought provoking subject matter from recent the recent past to modern day... get ready for 20th Century History Documentaries content on all things from conspiracy theories to real events and how they shaped our lives. We create content, history and nostalgia on The Beatles, The Stones, JFK, MLK, Area 51, Robert Johnson, Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack, Roswell 1947, Elvis, Aliens, UFO's, The counter culture and more... The Remember History and Nostalgia Channel is Sponsored by Cool Gifts For Men: geni.us/CoolGifts4Men ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Hire Me To Use My Voice In Your Next Video/Project ► geni.us/VoiceOverPhilAdair ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 💥 View The Remember This Channel’s "Top 10" Most Watched Videos:💥 #1: ⏩ geni.us/WizardOfOzMovieTribute #2: ⏩ geni.us/JohnLennonLostWeekend #3: ⏩ geni.us/NatalieWoodTragicLoss #4: ⏩ geni.us/ChateauMarmontSecrets #5: ⏩ geni.us/TheJimiHendrixStory #6: ⏩ geni.us/JimMorrisonLifeStory #7: ⏩ geni.us/MarilynMonroeLifeStory #8: ⏩ geni.us/BobHopeLifeStory #9: ⏩ geni.us/BonScottLifeStory #10: ⏩ geni.us/DorisDayLifeStory My Gear: My Main Camera ► geni.us/PanasonicFZ1000-20 My Microphone ► geni.us/RodeNTUSBMicrophone My Microphone Boom Arm ► geni.us/RodeMikeBoomArm My Headphones ► geni.us/HD280ProHeadphones My Wireless Headphones ► geni.us/BoseQC35HPhonesSilver ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Subscribe To The Remember This KZfaq Channel Here ► geni.us/RememberThisChannel ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow Us: Instagram ► geni.us/InstagramCoolGifts4Men Facebook ► geni.us/FacebookCoolGifts4Men ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Cool Gifts 4 Men Suite 12, 5th Floor, Dymocks Building 428 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 ▶ E: support@giftshopforguys.com ▶ W: geni.us/CoolGifts4Men ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ #joecocker #historyandnostalgia #historydocumentaries #bio #biography #biographies

One of the best that walked the earth !!

A big thank you for sharing this incredible tribute to Joe Cocker. His music lives on in our hearts.

Thank you for bringing Joe Cocker's story to light. He left an indelible mark on the music world.

I sat in joes front room and he played me the demo of with a little help from my friends,and showed me the telegram from Lennon and McCartney. Saying good luck with the record joe. He had asked me to go and collect his copy of sugar baby by JIMMY Powell,sixties singer with the dimensions. And gave it to me.and my group at the timeRUBBER BAND, played support at the birley hotel Sheffield one night great memories. Ray Drury Sheffield…….singer.

Thank you so much for sharing Joe Cocker's life story. His journey was truly remarkable and inspiring!

What a voice- it woke me up...something to say is a fave..oh they all are !!

I do sheed a tear every time I listen to Mad Dogs and Englishmen - what a voice though and I loved Something to Say - oh Joe many thanks !!

I saw him at the Capitol theater in Passaic N.J in 1972. What a great show. Rip Joe.

Joe Cocker Was Never "Schlocky!" I Loved His Collaboration w/Jennifer Warnes! I Heard Him Live With Stevie Ray Vaughan In 1990 - Just Weeks Before Stevie So Tragically Left Us....The Were AMAZING!! Stevie & His Entire Band Had Gone Into Treatment For THEIR Severe Drug & Alcohol Abuse & Adopted A Whole New Lifestyle To Support Their Sobriety - Then They All Emerged VICTORIOUSLY & Better Musicians Than Ever! And Stevie Had Been REBORN!! He Started His Long Battle Back From The Brink Of Dying In 1986 & Was Better Both Personally & Professionally For It! Both Joe & Stevie Were Deeply Emersed In The Sex, Drugs & Rock & Roll Lifestyle In The 70's & 80's But Both Of Them Were Always Amazing Musicians! I Was Honoured To Have Witnessed Each Of Them Comeback! Soul💞Soul, Stevie💗😘

Fave Cocker tune? *_Cry Me a River_* live from the Mad Dogs and Englishmen LP.

My absolute favorite Joe Cocker song is "When The Night Comes ".

Joe Cocker's life story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

I like I shall be released. It’s a beautiful song.

Thank you Joe! Amazing artist ❤️❤️❤️

You can leave your hat on ... fantastic

A whiter shade of pale wonderful song!

❤🎶❤ JOE 4EVER...❤🎶🙏🎶

the best cocker song for me is saint James Infirmary

Love when he sang on Tom Jone show. I didn't like the sarcastic talk from David Letterman about his movements.

A tall man. And there aren't many unfortunately.

Cocker power the world

Space Captain.

Joe and John. SNL

Did he have a Christian conversion