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Singer Joe Cocker dead at 70; Hear some of his best songs

Posted at 2:28 PM, Dec 22, 2014
and last updated 2014-12-22 15:13:10-05

Joe Cocker, whose signature gravelly voice brought life to hits like "Up Where We Belong," has died at the age of 70.

Cocker's manager confirmed the singer's death to the BBC on Monday. The report indicated that Cocker, a native Englishman, died of "an undisclosed illness."

Cocker performed at the original Woodstock music festival in 1969, playing his version of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends." Cocker's rendition of that song was later used as the opening theme song to the hit ABC series "The Wonder Years."

In 1982, his song "Up Where We Belong," a duet with Jennifer Warnes, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That recording also won Cocker a Grammy Award.

Here are some of his most classic songs:

Cocker performs the Beatles' "With a LIttle Help from My Friends" at Woodstock in 1969.

A performance of the Beatles' "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" with Leon Russell.

The music video for Cocker's version of "You Can Leave Your Hat On."

The clip for "When the Night Comes," a Billboard top 40 hit for Cocker.

Cocker performs his biggest hit, "Up Where We Belong."

Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.