The singer of one of our favourite love songs, Up Where We Belong, passed away today after a long battle with lung cancer.

It was confirmed that English singer Joe Cocker, who won both a Grammyand Academy Award for Up Where We Belong, died today after bravely battling the frightening disease.

The rock and blues singer was famed for covering Beatles tracks and his version of With A Little Help From My Friends reached number one and propelled the Sheffield-born star to music stardom. He then went on to record forty albums and toured the globe treating audience to his distinctive, gritty voice.

Commenting on the singer’s tragic demise, his agent Barrie Marshall said: “It will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts.”

Joe was called ‘simply unique’ by his agent who also insisted: “ [Joe] was without a doubt the greatest rock/soul voice ever to come out of Britain- and remained the same throughout his life. Anyone who ever saw him live will never forget him.”

The seventy-year-old singer was awarded an OBE in 2007 for his legendary contribution to the music industry.