Billy Joel has been petitioning for Joe Cocker to get inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame since 2014—the year he passed away—and this year the late singer's name is finally on the ballot, despite being eligible since 1994.
Joel read the letter he wrote the Rock Hall committee in a recently released video filmed in 2016 for the documentary Joe Cocker: Mad Dog With Soul. "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," he began. "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," he continued. "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."
In the same clip, singer-songwriter Randy Newman also shares his disbelief that Cocker hadn't been inducted into the Hall of Fame yet—and that was nearly a decade ago!
Paul McCartney also wrote an open letter to "Rock and Rollers" urging to get Cocker inducted this year. “Joe was a great man and a fine singer whose unique style made for some fantastic performances,” the Beatles star wrote. “He sang one of our songs, ‘With a Little Help From My Friends,’ a version produced by Denny Cordell, which was very imaginative."
“All the people on the panel will be aware of the great contribution Joe made to the history of Rock and Roll," he added. "And whilst he may not have ever lobbied to be in the Hall of Fame, I know he would be extremely happy and grateful to find himself where he deserves to be, amongst such illustrious company.
Cocker joins Oasis, OutKast, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Maná, Phish, Chubby Checker, The White Stripes, Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Joy Division/New Order, and Soundgarden on the 2025 ballot. See Joel read his letter below.