Joe Cocker

Joe Cocker, rock and soul musician and composer renowned for his unique stage presence, was born in Sheffield, England, and began his career playing in English pubs. He was particularly renowned for his Beatles covers, and he hit number one in England in November 1968 with his version of The Beatles' "A Little Help from My Friends", which he delivered in his characteristic gravelly but melodic voice. Three months before Jack Robinson photographed him on November 21, 1969, Cocker was prominent performing through a major thunderstorm at Woodstock. A second British hit came with a version of Leon Russell's "Delta Lady" in the fall of 1969 and both of his 1969 albums, With a Little Help from My Friends and Joe Cocker!, went gold in America. The following year in 1970, his cover of the Box Tops hit "The Letter" became his first U.S. Top Ten.