Georgia Entertainment Scene
Georgia Entertainment Scene

Music world reacts to Joe Cocker's death on Twitter

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2011 file photo, British singer Joe Cocker sings the "Red Cross Gala" in Monaco. Cocker, best known for the songs, "You Are So Beautiful," and the 1980s duet "Up Where We Belong," with Jennifer Warnes, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 of lung cancer in Colorado. He was 70. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File) Joe Cocker's distinctive rasp inspired generations of singers. Photo: AP.

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2011 file photo, British singer Joe Cocker sings the "Red Cross Gala" in Monaco. Cocker, best known for the songs, "You Are So Beautiful," and the 1980s duet "Up Where We Belong," with Jennifer Warnes, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 of lung cancer in Colorado. He was 70. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File) Joe Cocker's distinctive rasp inspired generations of singers. Photo: AP.
By Melissa Ruggieri
Dec 22, 2014

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

The distinctive rasp of Joe Cocker, the blues-rock bellower who was often imitated but never, ever duplicated, was silenced on Monday when Cocker passed away at the age of 70.

The singer last played Atlanta in 2012, sharing a bill with Huey Lewis and the News at Chastain Park Amphitheatre.

Shortly after his agent confirmed Cocker's death from lung cancer, Twitter was illuminated with RIP messages for the man behind such memorable renditions of "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "You Are So Beautiful."

Here is what they had to say in their messages of mourning.

About the Author

Melissa Ruggieri has covered music and entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2010 and created the Atlanta Music Scene blog. She's kept vampire hours for more than two decades and remembers when MTV was awesome.

Follow Melissa Ruggieri on facebookFollow Melissa Ruggieri on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

"In the Shadow of the Great House" and "On Witness and Respair" are two of the books we're anticipating in the new year. (Courtesy)

Credit: Handout

Bookshelf: 5 nonfiction books we can’t wait to read in 2026

A memoir from Tom Junod and essays from Jesmyn Ward and Anjali Enjeti are among upcoming releases.

2025 Atlanta media year in review: CNN sale, ‘Bert Show’ ends, CBS swap

This year brought big changes to Atlanta media. Here’s a look back at the city’s biggest TV, film and radio stories of 2025.

‘Stranger Things’ has cast a spell on metro Atlanta for a decade

As final season debuts, Jackson and other filming locations hope the residual power of fandom lingers.

The Latest

ajc.com

What movies made in Georgia have made the most money since 2008?

‘Ride Along’ producer Will Packer promotes ‘healthy arrogance’ in new book

Check out three new reality shows with Atlanta ties

Featured

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney — pictured during a hearing Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — has cleared the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Judge keeps alive subpoenas of Fulton County’s 2020 ballots

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney clears the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election.

Winter’s here, but warmer forecast means snow is far from certain

Despite recent frigid temperatures, this season might feel more like a typical late fall in the Peach State, making for slim chances to see any snow.

Philanthropy helped shape Atlanta. Here’s how that legacy endures.

Philanthropy helped shape Atlanta. And foundation-giving has had huge ripple effects not only in the metro area, but far beyond Georgia.