The boy from a smog-drenched city who sang through addiction and into our hearts

Joe Cocker rose from industrial Sheffield to global fame with a raw, soulful voice that carried his struggles as much as his songs. Success brought excess—addiction, chaos, and decline—but he endured it all.

He later found stability, renewed success with “Up Where We Belong,” and a quieter life. Though lung cancer took him in 2014, his voice—especially in “With a Little Help from My Friends”—remains a lasting reminder that even a troubled life can create something powerful.