Biography of Joe Cocker
After starting out in the late '50s as an unsuccessful British pop singer (working under the name Vance Arnold), English soul/rock singer Cocker found his niche in the pubs of England with his superb backing group, The Grease Band. Worldwide success soon followed with a brace of fine recordings based around Cocker's fine interpretive skills. Cocker's first peak of success came when Leon Russell organized the Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, featuring Cocker and over 40 others. Problems with alcohol (both on stage and off) reduced Cocker's once-powerful voice to a croaking rasp, but he has survived, still scoring hits into the early '80s. It's unlikely we've heard the last of him, since the man still seems capable of making any song his own. ~ Cub Koda