Joe Cocker 

born John Robert Cocker on May 20, 1944 in Sheffield and died December 22, 2014, is a singer of rock and English blues. It was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as the 97th best singer among a hundred. Joe Cocker, OBE was born on May 20, 1944 at 38, Tasker Road, Crookes, in Sheffield, England under the name of John Robert Cocker. He is the youngest son of Harold Cocker, official and Madge Cocker. According to various accounts of family members, he received his nickname of Joe either because he practiced, as a child, a game called "Cowboy Joe" or by a window cleaner named Joe. As he grew up, Joe's main musical influences were Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan. Joe's first public singing experience was when he was twelve years old and his older brother Victor invited him on stage for a performance of his "skiffle" group. It was in 1960 that with three friends Joe formed his first group: "The Horsemen". On the occasion of their first show in a youth club, it is said that they were charged the entrance fee.