Joe Cocker - best known for his cover of the Beatles' With A Little Help From My Friends - passed away after a battle with cancer
Sir Paul McCartney has released a touching tribute to Joe Cocker after he passed away at the age of 70 following a battle with lung cancer.
The Sheffield-born singer enjoyed a career spanning more than 40 years, with hits including Unchain My Heart, You Are So Beautiful and his cover of the Beatles' With A Little Help From My Friends.
In a statement, the Beatles star told the Mirror that his "good mate" will be sorely missed
He said: "It’s really sad to hear about Joe’s passing. He was a lovely northern lad who I loved a lot and like many people I loved his singing.
"I was especially pleased when he decided to cover With A Little Help From My Friends and I remember him and Denny Cordell coming round to the studio in Saville Row and playing me what they’d recorded and it was just mind blowing.
"He totally turned the song into a soul anthem and I was forever grateful for him for doing that.
"I knew him through the years as a good mate and I was so sad to hear that he had been ill and really sad to hear today that he had passed away. He was a great guy, a lovely guy who brought so much to the world and we’ll all miss him."
Sir Paul's Beatles band mate Ring Starr also paid tribute, writing on Twitter: "Goodbye and God bless to Joe Cocker from one of his friends peace and love. R."
Joe lived in his Sheffield until his early 20s and was one of the British pop heroes of the Sixties before moving to America.
He won a Grammy in 1983 for his track Up Where We Belong, a duet with Jennifer Warnes, and in 2007 he received an OBE for his contribution to music.
Barrie Marshall, Joe Cocker's agent said in a statement: "It is with heaviest of hearts we heard that our beloved Joe Cocker passed away last night. He was without doubt the greatest rock/soul voice ever to come out of Britain – and remained the same man throughout his life.
"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.
"Last year he broke all his own records in Arenas across Europe with a number one album in Germany and a final concert in Hammersmith in June.
"Chris Evans had championed his record and he was able to touch the UK again with a great concert. If it was to be his last tour, he left at the very pinnacle of his talent.
