ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons, like Paul McCartney earlier this month, is encouraging his fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Fame voters to cast one for the late Joe Cocker.
He says Cocker’s nomination is,”good news in view of the monumental recordings released and amazing performances delivered over the course of his lengthy career. We first crossed paths at Texas Stadium in Austin sharing the bill at our first annual Rompin’ Stompin’ Barn Dance & B.B.Q. back in 1974. As it happened, there was no ‘Second Annual’ edition because of all the rompin’ and stompin’ that took place back at the first and last. Suffice it to say, Joe was one of a kind, the very embodiment of rock and roll in terms of talent and spirit. Let’s get him inducted!”
This is the first time Cocker has been nominated, although he’s been eligible since 1989 — 25 years after his first recording. Cocker died from lung cancer in 2014. He was 70.
Cocker is sitting at number-six in the Rock Hall’s Fan Vote.
Gibbons was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with ZZ in 2004.
REUTERS PHOTO
