Recommendations of the Editorial team
More than ten years after his death, Joe Cocker focuses on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Thanks to a wave of support, lead the real sizes of the music world. One of the loudest advocates: Billy Joel.
A previously unpublished video from 2016 shows the “Piano Man” backstage in Madison Square Garden. With a very personal message. In it he reads a letter that he had already written to the Hall of Fame in 2014. As a state of health, rapidly deteriorated. An urgent request. Joe Cocker deserves this place. Now.
“He was unique – and he was a giant”
In the letter, Joel describes how Cocker’s voice touched him deeply in 1969. In the same year in which he visited the Woodstock Festival and bought Led Zeppelin’s debut album. He heard Joe Cocker with “with a little help from my friends”. For Joel it was the moment he thought: Cocker is more than a singer. He is an interpreter with soul, with strength, with a voice “that gets under your skin”.
He draws a direct comparison to Ray Charles and calls Cocker “the strongest rock interpreter in his generation”. Despite this passionate appeal, the Hall of Fame did not react at the time. A failure that could finally be corrected.
Not only Billy Joel – Paul McCartney also puts pressure
Billy Joel is not the only one who is campaigning for Cocker’s recording. Paul McCartney also spoke publicly. In an open letter to the rock world, he praised Cocker’s extraordinary interpretation of the Beatles song “With A Little Help from My Friends”. A version that has long since written music history.
“Joe was a great person and an extraordinary singer with a unique style,” wrote McCartney.
“He would have deserved to be immortalized among the big ones.”
Voting runs until April 21st
Theoretically, Joe Cocker has been selectable for the Hall of Fame since 1994 – but so far he has never made it to the official list. Now he has been nominated for the first time and the audience has the chance to support him by fan voting. A daily can be coordinated by April 21, 2025.
The letter from Billy Joel:
“As a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame since 1999, it was one of my longest wishes to see Joe Cocker in this glory hall. When I heard him for the first time in 1969, I was very inspired by the sound of his incredibly rough and soulful singing style.
This year became a turning point in my life. This year I visited the Woodstock Festival, bought me the first LED-Zeppelin album and heard Joe Cocker “With a Little Help from My Friends” singing. I thought Joe was the most powerful rock singer that I had heard of Ray Charles since the first shots. In my opinion, nobody has come as close to him since then as one of the biggest rock ‘n’ roll singers of all time.
I am firmly convinced that Joe Cocker should be considered to be included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I hope you will consider putting your name on the ballot this year. ”