John “Joe” Cocker
May 20, 1944 – December 21, 2014
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Joe Cocker was a much-beloved English singer-songwriter who, over a career that spanned over 40 years, gave us some of the rock era’s most memorable songs. That list includes, “Feeling Alright,” “Up Where We Belong,” “Cry Me A River,” “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window,” “You Are So Beautiful,” “Unchain My Heart,” and “With A Little Help From My Friends.” With a gravelly voice and uniquely passionate live delivery, Cocker can only be described as one of a kind. In many cases, his interpretations of other superstars’ recordings were arguably better than – or at least equal to – the originals. Born in Sheffield, England , Cocker gravitated to the music of Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan at an early age. He was just 12 years old when his older brother first brought him up on stage to sing with his skiffle band. Within a couple of years, he formed his first group, the Cavaliers. Over the next four decades, Cocker released 23 studio albums and toured the world numerous times. His most recent studio album, Fire It Up, was released in 2012. Joe Cocker lost his battle with lung cancer on December 21, 2014. He was 70 years old.
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Lonnie Donegan was one of the most popular performers of the ’50s and early ’60s skiffle scene of the UK. Skiffle was a raved up version of traditional folk, blues, jazz and country influences from the US. British Invasion bands like the Beatles rose out of the skiffle scene and claim Donegan as a direct influence. Donegan began playing guitar at the age of 14, and in 1952, he formed his first band, the Tony Donegan Jazz Band. He switched to “Lonnie” a few years later and began playing in bands that were evolving into skiffle music by adding such instruments as banjo and washboard. His first recording was a 1956 rave up of 
