Joe Cocker has been played on NTS over 10 times, featured on 12 episodes and was first played on 5 December 2015.

John Robert "Joe" Cocker OBE (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his distinctive, blues-inflected voice and energetic stage performances, which often included expressive body movements. Many of his most recognised singles, including "Feelin' Alright" and "Unchain My Heart", were covers of songs written by other artists, although he also co-wrote material for most of his albums, frequently collaborating with keyboardist and songwriter Chris Stainton.

Cocker gained widespread attention with his debut album, which featured a cover of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" as the title track. The song reached number one in the United Kingdom in 1968 and became a staple of his live performances, including at Woodstock, the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969, and the Party at the Palace in 2002. It was also used as the theme for the late 1980s American television series "The Wonder Years". His second album included another Beatles cover, "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window". A 1970 US tour, quickly organised by Cocker and Leon Russell, resulted in the live double album "Mad Dogs & Englishmen", featuring an all-star ensemble of musicians.

Among Cocker’s later hits, his 1974 recording of "You Are So Beautiful" reached number five in the United States and became closely associated with him. His best-selling single was "Up Where We Belong", a 1983 duet with Jennifer Warnes that reached number one in the US and earned a Grammy Award. Over his 43-year career, Cocker released 22 studio albums.

Cocker received numerous honours during his career, including a nomination for the Brit Award for Best British Male Solo Artist in 1993, a bronze Sheffield Legends plaque in his hometown in 2007, and an appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2008 for services to music. He was ranked number 97 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest singers and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2025.

Studio albums With a Little Help from My Friends (1969) Joe Cocker! (1969) Joe Cocker (1972) I Can Stand a Little Rain (1974) Jamaica Say You Will (1975) Stingray (1976) Luxury You Can Afford (1978) Sheffield Steel (1982) Civilized Man (1984) Cocker (1986) Unchain My Heart (1987) One Night of Sin (1989) Night Calls (1991) Have a Little Faith (1994) Organic (1996) Across from Midnight (1997) No Ordinary World (1999) Respect Yourself (2002) Heart & Soul (2004) Hymn for My Soul (2007) Hard Knocks (2010) Fire It Up (2012)