Joe Cocker is a bit uncomfortable for me to watch, but oh! his voice gives me goosebumps. It's rough and raw and reeks of stale cigarettes and too much gin, but the naked emotion he brings out when he sings is soulfully chilling.
Born in 1944 in Sheffield, England, Joe Cocker began his musical career in 1961 under the pseudonym Vance Arnold with the band The Avengers. By 1969 he had become a solo phenomenon. He currently lives in Colorado, USA with his wife, Pam, whom he married in 1987. They are both on the Board of Directors for Cocker's Kids, a non-profit, community supported organization dedicated to aiding local kids in the areas of education, recreation, the arts and athletics.
The song Many Rivers to Cross was written in 1969 by Jamaican Jimmy Cliff and included on his self titled album released in 1969. It was also included in the 1972 soundtrack for the movie "The Harder They Come" in which Jimmy Cliff also appeared as an actor. The list of artists who have covered this song is long and includes the likes of Harry Nilsson, Cher, Linda Ronstadt, UB40, Elvis Costello, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Annie Lennox.
Many Rivers to Cross by Joe Cocker
Official website for Joe Cocker
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