Cocker Joe - English singer of blues tracks

Cocker Joe, an English singer, was born on May 20, 1944 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. He is a patriarch of English pop music, since 1960 and has been working in the genre of blues, soul and rock. The main advantage over other performers is a low husky voice, which fits well into blues compositions.

The family of Joe Cocker lived poorly, the young man had to leave school and go to work. He settled himself as an assistant railroader, and in the evenings lost in the pubs of Sheffield, trying to break through in the field of blues performances. Throughout the concert career, Joe Cocker had only one problem - the lack of repertoire. The singer had no connections with the composers and did not communicate with the management in the show business. He just chanted popular hits, so he lived. Ray Charles Coker borrowed Unchain My Heart and What'd I Say, the Beatles took I'll Cry Instead.

First successes

Everyone knew Joe Cocker's pirate habits, but since he performed songs professionally, he did not spare money for arrangements, he was not presented with any claims. On the contrary, the owners of hits encouraged Cocker's work, as popular songs, which they sung, sounded in a new way, and their rating increased. Sometimes Joe could even replay the original performance. For example, the hit Ray Charzy Unchain My Heart in 1963, made by the author in the style of pure soul, Cocker Joe issued in his version in 2002 at a concert in German Cologne. He gave the compositions a classical eight-bladed blues move with a good syncopated accent, and the song began to sound in a new way. And although Joe Cocker does not have such a luxurious backing vocals that Ray Charles had (he had two girls with a conservative education), but in general, the version of Cocker was a success.

Touring trips

1966 was the beginning of active performances of the singer. Joe Cocker, whose biography then expanded to a new page, organized the Grease Band and performed at several venues in Sheffield, then traveled north of England with concerts. In the repertoire was mostly blues, and as shown by the first performances, the choice of the singer made the right one, as the blues compositions are always and always welcomes the audience blandly. And where the blues are, there is a boogie-woogie favorite. In addition to blues, Cocker Joe performed the famous Beatles songs, which also contributed to raising his popularity. And when Grease Band recorded its version of the Beatles hit With A Little Help in 1968, the band entered a wide recognition level, and the song won first place in the national charts.

In March 1969, Cocker Joe and the band went on their first US tour. In the same year in 1969, in August, the group performed at the Woodstock festival, and in 1970 Joe Cocker again toured the United States. This time the concerts were held in 48 cities.

Decline

The seventies became a difficult period in the life of the singer, the repertoire did not develop at all, and on foreign hits it was increasingly difficult to conclude touring contracts. From despair Joe Cocker began to drink, and then addicted to drugs. Gradually, he began to lose control of himself, often went on stage in drunk. The musicians suffered for a while, and then gradually began to leave their patron.

The rescue circle for Joe Cocker was the band The Crusaders, who invited the singer to perform the composition I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today, written specially for him, under his voice. By pure chance, the content of the song was exactly the same as the story of Coker's decline, with all the emotions and losses.

Revival

The singer seemed to have tried on the plot of this issue, he seemed to be born again and believed in himself. His role was also played by Coke's new close friend, Pam, who appeared in that difficult period of his life. In a few years she will become Jo's wife. The situation has gradually corrected, Joe Cocker, photo Who again appeared in glossy magazines, stopped drinking, his work became in demand, the public welcomed his idol.