Joe Cocker tour dates for 2009

John Robert "Joe" Cocker OBE (born 20 May, 1944) is an English rock/blues singer who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idosyncratic 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 song "Up Where We Belong", a duet which he performed with Jennifer Warnes.

In 1961, under the stage name Vance Arnold, Cocker continued his career with a new group, Vance Arnold and the Avengers.[2] The name was a combination of Vince Everett, Elvis Presley's character in Jailhouse Rock, (which Cocker misheard as Vance) and country singer Eddy Arnold.[3] The group mostly played in the pubs of Sheffield,[2] performing covers of Chuck Berry and Ray Charles songs. In 1963 they booked their first significant gig when they supported The Rolling Stones at Sheffield City Hall. In 1964 Cocker signed a recording contract as a solo act with Decca Records and released his first single, a cover of The Beatles' "I'll Cry Instead" with Jimmy Page playing backup guitar. Despite extensive promotion from Decca lauding his youth and working class roots, the record was a flop and his recording contract with Decca lapsed at the end of 1964.[4] After Cocker recorded the single, he dropped his stage name and formed a new group, Joe Cocker's Big Blues. The group toured in France, where they played on American military air bases and Cocker gained the nickname of "Le Petit Ray Charles". Although the group appeared on the ITV variety show Stars and Garters, they were unable to secure enough bookings and had to disband due to lack of funds.

In 1982, at the behest of producer Stewart Levine, Cocker recorded the duet "Up Where We Belong" with Jennifer Warnes for the soundtrack of the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman. The song was an international hit, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and winning a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo. The duet also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song while Cocker and Warnes performed the song at the awards ceremony. Several days later, he was invited to perform "You Are So Beautiful" with Ray Charles in a television tribute to the musician. He then joined singer Ronnie Lane's 1983 tour to raise money for the London-based organisation Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis. Musicians such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Chris Stainton also participated in the tour which included a performance at Madison Square Garden. While on another tour that year, Cocker was arrested by Austrian police after refusing to perform because of inadequate sound equipment. The charges were eventually dropped and Cocker was released.[22] Shortly after the incident, he released his ninth studio album, Civilized Man. His next album Cocker was dedicated to his mother, Madge, who died when he was recording in the studio. A track from the album, You Can Leave Your Hat On was featured in the 1986 film 9½ Weeks. The album eventually went Platinum on the European charts.[23] His 1987 album Unchain My Heart was nominated for a Grammy Award, although it did not win. One Night of Sin was also a commercial success, surpassing Unchain My Heart in sales. Throughout the 1980s, Cocker continued to tour around the world, playing to large audiences in Europe, Australia and the United States. In 1988, he performed at London's Royal Albert Hall and appeared on The Tonight Show.[24] He also performed for President George H. W. Bush at an inauguration concert in February 1989. In 1992, his version of Bryan Adams' "Feels Like Forever" made the UK Top 40.

Cocker performed the opening set at Woodstock '94 as one of the few alumni who played at the original Woodstock Festival in 1969. Cocker was awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for services to music.[26] To celebrate receiving his award in mid December 2007, Cocker played two concerts in London and in his home town of Sheffield.

In 2007, Cocker appeared playing minor characters in the film, Across the Universe, as the lead singer on another Beatles hit, "Come Together".[27]

In April and May 2009 Cocker played a mammoth North American tour in support of his latest album Hymn for My Soul. He is also planning a new studio release for 2010 that will feature a modern look at classic rhythm and blues.

(From Wikipedia) http://www.myspace.com/joecocker