Joe Cocker’s incredible career as a musician spanned more than half a century, and he was most recognized for his rough voice and strong, passionate delivery. In 1968, after years of working as a blues singer, Cocker finally catapulted to stardom with his cover of The Beatles’ single, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends.’ He was born in Sheffield during World War II. He regrettably died from lung cancer in 2014, with musicians including Paul McCartney and Bryan Adams paying tribute to him after his demise.
Around the time he was asked to play at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee festivities in 2002, Cocker put on a show at Cologne’s Limelight Club. His legion of devoted listeners have come to revere the recordings ever since. ‘Unchain My Heart’ was one of the songs he played that night that the crowd loved. Ray Charles recorded this song in 1961, but it wasn’t until 1987 that it became a single and the title track of Jarrett Cocker’s eleventh studio album.
Cocker’s rendition of “Unchain My Heart” that evening was absolutely electrifying, with his legendary voice whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Cocker, backed by a stellar ensemble that included keyboardist Mick Milo and saxophonist Derek Dyer, gave what many have called one of his all-time best performances of the song. Many listeners even noted an improvement in Cocker’s vocals compared to the original recording.
In 2013, Cocker gave another legendary live performance, this time a 13-minute rendition of “With A Little Help From My Friends” that sent chills down listeners’ spines. His voice is chilling enough on its own (especially when you consider that this performance was recorded less than a year before he tragically passed away), but when you combine it with the impeccable musicianship of his band and the sincere performances of his two backing vocalists, it takes on an otherworldly quality.
Joe Cocker, one of the best and most underappreciated singers Britain has ever produced, was a man who could consistently wow audiences with his electrifying live performances. Those are just two examples from his career where he completely exceeded his audience’s expectations. Fans of his music and the British music industry mourn his passing with heavy hearts because of his immense talent as a performer and composer.