- published: 08 Dec 2014
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John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE (born 20 May 1944) is an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of the Beatles.
He is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his #1 hit "Up Where We Belong", a duet he performed with Jennifer Warnes. He was ranked #97 on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers list.
Cocker was born on 20 May 1944 at 38 Tasker Road, Crookes, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire. He is the youngest son of a civil servant, Harold Cocker, and Madge Cocker. According to differing family stories, Cocker received his nickname of Joe either from playing a childhood game called "Cowboy Joe" or from a local window cleaner named Joe.
Cocker's main musical influences growing up were Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan. Cocker's first experience singing in public was at age 12 when his elder brother Victor invited him on stage to sing during a gig of his skiffle group. In 1960, along with three friends, Cocker formed his first group, the Cavaliers. For the group's first performance at a youth club, they were required to pay the price of admission before entering. The Cavaliers eventually broke up after a year and Cocker left school to become an apprentice gasfitter while he pursued a career in music.
Actors: Dick Clark (producer), Barry Glazer (director), Alfonso Ribeiro (actor), Christopher Reid (actor), Larry Klein (producer), Matthew Sharp (editor), Daniel Shriver (producer), Michael B. Klein (editor), Lisa Anderson (miscellaneous crew), Bill Belew (costume designer), Fred Bronson (writer), Sue Nadell (producer), Robin Felsen Von Halle (miscellaneous crew), Damita Jo Freeman (miscellaneous crew), Ryan Reilly (editor),
Plot: Celebrity sound-(or look)-a-likes compete for cash and prizes. Each contestant is introduced by their real-name and the singer they are emulating. They are each given roughly 3 minutes to impress the studio-audience with their singing ability and/or likeness to the celebrity. The performances are accompanied by elaborate stage-sets, dancers and full costuming. The winner of each show is determined by electronic-voting courtesy of the audience members, with each winner returning at a later date to compete in the grand-finals.
Keywords: celebrity-impersonator, celebrity-look-alike, singing, syndicated, talent-contest, tv-showActors: Tane McClure (actress), Christopher Mitchum (actor), Jeremy Kasten (editor), Monique Parent (actress), Honey Lauren (actress), Albert Hall (actor), Chris Redish (actor), Nadine Bass (miscellaneous crew), David Glassman (miscellaneous crew), Tori Bridges (actress), Wayne Anthony (actor), Kimberly Russell (actress), Dan Reardon (producer), Cedric Ceballos (actor), Daniel Rivera (producer),
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