An Englishman with one of the most powerful sets of lungs in rock history, Joe Cocker succumbed to cancer of said organ December 21. He was 70.

Over a 53-year career, Cocker hit the US charts 20 times; his appearances included rearranged versions of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" (which became the theme for TV show The Wonder Years) and the Box Tops' "The Letter," plus Leon Russell's "Delta Lady," Dave Mason's "Feelin' Alright," and Billy Preston, Dennis Wilson, and Bruce Fisher's "You Are So Beautiful." His 1972 composition "Woman to Woman" only reached #56 on the US charts, but was sampled by several hiphop artists, including Dr. Dre, Ultramagnetic MCs, EPMD, and Quasimoto. In 1983, Cocker won a Grammy for his duet with Jennifer Warnes, "Up Where We Belong."

Cocker's boisterous, sandpapery voice was instantly recognizable and, for some, an acquired taste. But there's no denying the man's passion and unique interpretative skills on the mic. He was a massive, distinctive presence onstage and on record. RIP, Joe Cocker.