I never dreamed back in the 1070’s, that someday I would be doing a tribute to Joe Cocker. Today, I listened to Joe Cocker’s album “I Can Stand A Little Rain”
It was released in 1974, and wasn’t a big seller. However, it’s one of my personal favorites. It included the song, “You Are So Beautiful”, which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. I like every cut on this album. The highlights are, at least for me, “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress” (Jimmy Webb), “Don’t Forget Me” (Harry Nilsson), and “Guilty” (Randy Newman).
I happened to be in Chattanooga Tennessee, March 12, 1976, when Joe performed in concert, and he performed some of these songs. On the bill were Joe Cocker, Styx, and K.G.B.
This is the show that I hoped to get to meet Joe Cocker. Instead I met K.G.B. and hung out with them, made them laugh, and did impressions for Carmine Appice. Flash forward almost 10 years.In 1983 or 1984, I was touring as the opening act for the group Chicago. We were on a break and instead of going Home to Dallas for just 3 days, I stayed in Los Angeles. My manager and I went to Calabasas, to a driving range for his golf lesson. I was hungry and walked over to the property next to the driving range where a restaurant called, “The Pelican” was. A band, featuring Catfish Hodge, was setting up getting ready to play. I had dinner and watched the first set. When the second set started they began calling musicians up to the stage from the audience. Much to my surprise, in the audience of this seafood restaurant, I got to see Jeff Pocaro, Paul Barrere of Little Feat, and Cornell Dupree. My manager came in and I said “I can’t believe this, I’ve got to talk to Cornell Dupree, he was in Joe Cocker’s band when I saw him in 1976”. When they took a break I went over to where Cornell was sitting. “Mister Dupree?” I asked. “Yes”, he said with a smile, and I reached to shake his hand. I said, “I’m so glad to meet you, I saw you perform with Joe Cocker back in 1976” I said with a smile. He took his hand back and with almost a scowl on his face he said “You didn’t see ME”. I felt uncomfortable immediately, but continued. I saw you in Chattanooga. His face turned from a scowl to almost sorrowful. He rubbed the side of his face with his hand and said, “That was the night that I got word my Mother had died and I left that tour that very night” He reached out and shook my hand with both of his hands and said, “Nice to meet you young man”. We talked for about another 20 minutes and I will never forget how kind he was to me. Thank you for reading my Blog here at cockertribute.com