Joe Cocker Dead at 70

Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Joe Cocker has left the building. He died Monday at the age of 70.
Two year ago I finally had the opportunity to see the man, the legend, in concert while he was at tags in Big Flatts.

I remember people moving in closer to the stage and the mood seemed to change, just a feeling, with the exception of the heavy smell of cannabis in the night air. Then the stage came alive with the first notes of "Feelin Alright" and the man himself, walked on stage.

His body still contorted as if it were having seizures at times, but he sounded as good as I've ever heard him. I remember thinking this man was a break out star at Woodstock. He's been spoofed and actually hammed it up with John Belushi on the Saturday Night Live stage and he has a few timeless hits from movie soundtracks under his belt.

Born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, Joe began his music career in a group called 'The Cavaliers' in the late ’50s. In the mid-’60s he formed 'The Grease Band', and by 1968 he had a hit with a cover version of the Beatles, ‘With a Little Help From My Friends'.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one that felt that way at the show; a bit humbled and honored to be in the audience of such a unique and gifted performer. Joe Cocker will forever be on my best concert list.

Check out his legendary performance at Woodstock in 1969.