Tributes paid after British rock singer Joe Cocker dies of cancer

Ex Beatles Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have led tributes to the British singer Joe Cocker, who has died aged 70. With a career that spanned more than 50 years, he was best known for a 1968 rendition of the Lennon & McCartney song ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’. Following the announcement of his death, McCartney described Cocker’s version as “mind blowing” while Starr took to Social Media to say goodbye to one of his friends. With a gritty voice that was instantly recognisable, the rock and blues legend went on to produce some 40 albums. In 1983, he won a Grammy Award and Oscar for his duet ‘Up Where We Belong’ with Jennifer Warnes. Years later he received an OBE from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth for his contribution to music. Recently, Cocker had been battling lung cancer. He passed away on Sunday at his home in Colorado, where he had lived for the past two decades.