Joe Cocker

JOE COCKER is one of the most dynamic singing stars to emerge from the Twentieth Century, and was one of the most unique, creative, and memorablerockers around. With distinctively huge hits like, “With a Little Help from My Friends,” “You Are So Beautiful,” and his Number One duet withJennifer Warnes, “Up Where We Belong,” Cocker is a one-of-a-kind legend. Although he was relatively unknown in 1969 when he took the stage of the Woodstock Music Festival, he quickly rose to fame for his trademark onstage choreography and anguished blues singing. His album, “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” cemented his international stardom. Though he was an Academy and Grammy Award winner, Cocker’s life was not always on an uphill track. He suffered from low self-esteem and bouts of depression. It wasn’t until later in his life that he met the love of his life, Pam, who helped him put his personal life back on track before his death in 2014. Cocker’s life was one of attaining goals, making disastrous mistakes, and ultimately finding happiness and redemption in the eleventh hour. In Joe Cocker: With a LOT of Help from His Friends, every aspect of Joe’s amazinglife and career is examined and explained.

Mark Bego is the author of 68 books on rock & roll and show business, including two “New York Times” Best-Sellers, a “Los Angeles Times” Best-Seller, and a “Chicago Tribune” Best-Seller, a Nashville “Tennessean” Best-Seller, three multi-million-sellers, and two half-million selling titles. With over 12 million books in print, he is acknowledged as the best-selling biographer in the rock and pop music field. His biographies have included the life stories of some of the biggest stars of ROCK (Elton John, Billy Joel, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night), SOUL (Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston), POP (Sonny & Cher, The Monkees, Sade, Barry Manilow), and COUNTRY (Glen Campbell, George Strait, Patsy Cline, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill). He has also written about film and television stars as well (Rock Hudson, Julia Roberts, Linda Gray, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Matt Damon, The Marx Brothers).

Mark Bego's book reminds us just  how little we know of this legendary voice. Meticulously researched, it gets us inside the soul of the man who we thrilled to at Woodstock and on one of the greatest tours in rock history, "Mad Dogs And Englishmen." When I met Cocker, I remember gushing like a schoolboy and he was kind, funny, engaging and truly seemed to be appreciative of all the attention. -Mike Greenblatt

"With a tremendous foreword from Melanie – his Woodstock-compatriot – it’s a great read...."  -TSC

Bego pulls into sharp focus a comprehensive concise biography of the life of one of the least understood most culturally iconic singers to emerge from the 1960’s. The book sails through time and the choppy waters that made up the life of Joe Cocker. An up-close look at the soul and psyche of an artist that sang from the depths of his being without compromise to the audience, the music press, or his own well-being. While his own demons nearly destroyed him dedication to his art saved him.  

-Dan Zelinski

Bego, who has written 68 books, loves to delve into the lives of creative people and found out what makes them tick.

-Jimmie Tramel, Tulsa World