His relationship with Eileen Webster began in 1963 and continued on and off for 13 years.
Then, in 1978, his life took another turn.
Cocker moved to a ranch in California owned by Jane Fonda.
There, he met Pam Baker, a former summer camp director.
The two began a relationship and eventually married in 1987.
Baker became an important source of stability in Cocker’s life.
She was often credited with helping him through his struggles with addiction and supporting a quieter, more settled existence.
Together, they eventually made their home at Mad Dog Ranch in Crawford, Colorado.
After years of chaos, Cocker had found a place where life could become something more peaceful.
Joe Cocker’s Final Years
Cocker continued recording and touring well into his later years.
The man who had once collapsed from exhaustion and battled severe addiction remained committed to music for much of his life.
But his health would eventually take a different path.
Joe Cocker died from lung cancer on December 22, 2014, in Crawford, Colorado.
He was 70 years old.
Cocker had been a heavy smoker for many years and reportedly smoked as many as two packs of cigarettes a day before quitting in 1991.
His death marked the end of a career that had begun in the pubs and smoky bars of Sheffield and eventually carried him onto some of the world’s biggest stages.
A Career Built the Hard Way
Cocker had truly paid his dues.
Although he recorded numerous hit singles, his nearly 40 albums did not always enjoy the same commercial success.
He had started by performing in pubs and small venues, and he maintained an intense touring schedule for much of his career.
He also appeared on both the British and French versions of “American Idol,” although he was never particularly enthusiastic about the world of televised talent competitions.
Reflecting on the format, he questioned what happened to contestants who disappeared from the spotlight after failing to succeed.
For Cocker, there had always been something meaningful about earning a career the hard way — starting in pubs, learning through experience and gradually building an audience.
The Financial Struggles Behind the Fame
Fame did not automatically bring financial security.
