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.