Remembering Joe Cocker
My impressions of meeting a legendary, larger-than-life rock star…
Joe Cocker was very quiet and introverted—definitely not a man of many words. When he spoke, it wasn’t loud or boisterous, but soft, thoughtful, and humble.
He was also known for having legendary stage fright, something I witnessed firsthand when we both performed at the 12th Tokyo Music Festival in 1983. When he signed my festival program, even his autograph reflected his nerves—it was shaky and squiggly, and he wrote: “Pardon me nerves, thank you for your help.”
Here was a larger-than-life veteran rock star who had famously performed at Woodstock in front of more than 400,000 people, yet he was visibly nervous about taking the stage at the Tokyo Budokan, which seats “only” about 10,000 to 14,500. I pointed out the irony while trying to calm him down, and he replied, “Yeah right, mate—but you forget about the millions watching the telly…”
OMG—him saying that instantly amplified my own anxiety and stage fright.
The Tokyo Music Festival took place on March 27, 1983. Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes performed “Up Where We Belong,” which tied for the Grand Prize, alongside Lionel Richie’s “You Are.” Just weeks later, Joe and Jennifer performed the song live at the 55th Academy Awards on April 11, 1983, where it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Kevin I. with Lionel Richie & composer Manny Cabral
I remember watching that Oscar broadcast and praying that Joe’s nerves weren’t overwhelming him—especially knowing that the global television audience (“the telly,” as he would say) exceeded one billion viewers.
My lasting impression of Joe Cocker was that whatever “bad boy” reputation rock stars might have, he was the complete opposite. He was a genuine family man who would have much rather been at home in the UK with his family than touring or performing in massive venues. Joe Cocker sadly passed away in 2014 at the age of 70, and the music world truly lost a legendary artist.
Joe Cocker
I will always cherish my personal memories of sharing the Budokan stage with him, along with the brief but meaningful interactions we had during the competition.
Looking back now, I realize what a once-in-a-lifetime experience it was to be among such top global artists like Joe Cocker on the legendary Tokyo Budokan stage, performing with a full symphonic orchestra accompanying my song, “One In Love.” I vividly remember thinking how far I was from home in Hawaii, hoping this wasn’t all a dream—that I wouldn’t wake up still being that naïve young guy from Hawaii who only dreamed about moments like this.
I feel incredibly blessed by the experience, the privilege, and the opportunity to have represented Hawaii and the United States at such a prestigious international event. I will always be grateful to everyone who helped me get there—especially “One In Love” composer Manny Cabral and my arranger, the late Willy Barton.
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