I honestly thought he had already died. Sad news, anyway. There is a funny youtube video of him singing "With a Little Help From My Friends" with subtitles that write out what he seems to be saying, which is quite different than the intended lyrics. Worth a watch.
joe cocker was blue-eyed soul before blue-eyed soul was cool. while he's well known for, and broke out with "help from my friends" at woodstock, with which he closed his set, just before that he covered "i shall be released" by dylan. maybe the two best back-to-back songs of the entire festival. vaya con dios, joe, vaya con dios peace, love and music
One of my heroes, The Letter, A Little Help, You are so Beautiful (one I sing) and the SNL show with Belushi is a tv classic. He left nothing in the dressing room and poured it out on stage. He influenced many vocalists as hat said.