Singer Joe Cocker dead at 70

The British newspaper the Yorkshire Post is reporting that Sheffield, England-born rock star Joe Cocker has died after a battle with lung cancer. He was 70.

According to the story, Cocker, who rose to fame in the 1960s, had hits with The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends” (an iconic 8-minute version he performed at Woostock and later used as the theme song from the hit television series “The Wonder Years” in the late 1980s); and later, in a duet with Jennifer Warnes on the Grammy-winning hit song “Up Where We Belong” from the film “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

Known for his unique gravelly blues-rock vocals, Cocker had a penchant for doing covers of iconic hits. He recorded 20 albums in his career. His other hits include include “Feelin’ Alright,” “You Are So Beautiful” and “Unchain My Heart.”

In a statement to the BBC, Cocker’s agent, Barrie Marshall said: “[It] will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts.”

Cocker is survived by his wife, Pam Cocker, his brother, Victor Cocker, his stepdaughter, Zoey Schroeder, and two grandchildren.