Joe Cocker dead: Best songs from late singer including that iconic Woodstock performance

The legendary musician will be remembered for these classic hits

Joe Cocker performs in Rome in 2011 (Getty Images)

Tributes have been pouring in for legendary singer Joe Cocker, who has sadly died of cancer aged 70.

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has honoured his “mind-blowing” cover of “With A Little Help From My Friends” and praised him for “turning my song into a soul anthem”.

Joe Cocker - an appreciation

Music fans have taken to Twitter in their droves to remember some of Cocker’s classics from his Grammy-winning An Officer and A Gentleman theme to “Unchain My Heart” and “You Can Leave Your Hat On”.

Cocker’s iconic Woodstock performance in 1969 is also being widely called upon as a seminal moment in his career.

Joe Cocker's best songs

“With A Little Help From My Friends”

Cocker is arguably best known for his gritty, passionate cover of this Beatles hit. His Woodstock performance of the song is being highly cited as one of his, and music's, crowning moments.

“You Are So Beautiful”

Cocker's raw, stripped down version of Billy Preston's 1974 song on German TV in the Nineties made it famous. Beautiful - as the song title suggests.

“Up Where We Belong”

Cocker won a Grammy for this song with Jennifer Warnes, which many will remember from 1982 romantic drama An Officer and a Gentleman.

“Feelin' Alright”

Dave Mason of English rock band Traffic penned this song in the late Sixties but Cocker gave it a new life, with his version featuring in recent Denzel Washington movie Flight.

“The Letter”

Cocker's 1970 cover of this Box Tops song featured on his acclaimed Mad Dogs & Englishmen album. Contributions came from legendary saxophonist Bobby Keys and keyboard genius Leon Russell.

Cocker’s agent Barrie Marshall has described him as “hugely talented – a true star – but a kind and humble man who loved to perform”.

“Anyone who ever saw him live will never forget him,” he said. “We had the joy to work with this wonderful man for almost 30 years. We loved him and it will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts.”