Billy Joel was the first major act and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to publicly come out in support of why Joe Cocker should be nominated for induction, having written a letter to the nominating committee in 2014.
Until now, the content of that letter, which Joel hand-delivered to the Rock Hall, has not been revealed and had been the subject of speculation. Late last week, Joel re-posted a video from Joe Cocker’s social media platforms from 2016 in which he read the letter to filmmaker John Edginton minutes before taking the stage at Madison Square Garden. Edginton shot Joel’s reading during the filming of his documentary, Joe Cocker: Mad Dog With Soul, but left it out of the film.
In the letter, Joel wrote that Cocker was, “The most powerful rock and roll interpretive male singer” he had heard “since first hearing the iconic early recordings of Ray Charles... In my opinion no one has since come even close to him as one of the great primal rock and roll vocalists of all time.”
In addition to Joel, other Hall of Fame members singing Cocker's praises are Paul McCartney, Billy Gibbons, and Elvis Costello & The Attractions' drummer Pete Thomas, who, like Cocker, grew up in Sheffield, England.
As for what Cocker would think of all these accolades, his widow Pam says, "He was an advocate for so many of these people that he felt were deserving but was never angry or upset that he, himself, had been overlooked. Though he certainly wanted that honor he wasn’t covetous of it and felt that it would someday come. He would have been delighted to have this recognition not only for himself but for other great artists he thought were deserving of it.”
And his brother Vic Cocker adds, "Joe often closed his show with the words ‘Rock and Roll!’ It was a reflection of his musical passion. To be recognized among his heroes would be the greatest privilege he silently wished for.”
Cocker, who died in 2014 at 70, sits at number-six in the Rock Hall's Fan Vote.
You can vote once a day through April 21st at RockHall.com.
The top five artists selected by the public will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to determine the 2025 Inductees.
The Class of 2025 will be announced in late April with the ceremony set for the fall in Los Angeles.
Joel's complete letter reads as follows:
"As a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame since 1999, it has been one of my fondest hopes to see Joe Cocker inducted into it as well. When I first heard him in 1969, I was very inspired by the sound of his incredibly raw and soulful vocal style. That became a watershed year in my life. That year, I attended the Woodstock festival, bought the first Led Zeppelin album and heard Joe Cocker sing 'With a Little Help From My Friends.' I thought Joe was the most powerful rock 'n' roll interpretive male singer I had heard since first hearing the iconic early recordings of Ray Charles.
"In my opinion, no one has since come even close to him as one of the great primal rock 'n' roll vocalists of all time. I feel very strongly that Joe Cocker should be considered for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I hope you will consider putting his name on the voting ballot this year.
"Thank you for your consideration."