Musician Joe Cocker Dies at Age 70 after Battle with Lung Cancer … Rest in Peace

Sadly, one of my favorite singers of all times has passed away … A Classic Rocker.

Singer Joe Cocker, known for his raspy voice and incredible music ballads that included “You Are So Beautiful,”  “Up Where We Belong,”  and his Beatles cover “With a Little Help From My Friends” has passed away at the age of 70 from lung cancer. Cocker’s singing career lasted more than 40 years as he was propelled to super-stardom when he released his version of With A Little Help From My Friends that went to number one in 1968. Many of you younger folks  remember it as the theme song to the TV show, the Wonder Years. However, it was much, much more than that as Cocker would perform the anthem song at Woodstock in 1969, see video below. On a personal note, I was too young to attend Woodstock, but that does not mean my older sister didn’t. Which might explain why my early introduction to music as a youngster, growing up listening to the Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplanes, Lynrd Skynrd, The Who, the Stones, Don McLean, Simon & Garfunkel, The Mama’s and the Papa’s, CCR, Bob Dylan and of course Joe Cocker.

Joe Cocker is survived by his wife, Pam, of Crawford; his brother Victor Cocker of Norfolk, England; his step daughter, Zoey Schroeder of Stevenson Ranch, CA and two grandchildren, Eva & Simon Schroeder. What a voice, take a listen HERE, we are going to miss you Joe, God bless and Rest in Peace.

The Sheffield-born singer had a career lasting more than 40 years, with hits including You Are So Beautiful and Up Where We Belong.

His agent Barrie Marshall said Cocker, who died after battling lung cancer, was “simply unique”.

Known for his gritty voice, Cocker – a former gas fitter – began his singing career in the pubs and clubs of Sheffield in the 1960s before hitting the big time.

He was propelled to pop stardom when his version of With A Little Help From My Friends reached number one in 1968.

He performed the song at the famous Woodstock Festival in New York state a year later.

‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ – 1969 Woodstock

Joe Cocker Obit:

“Joe Cocker is a legendary artist of rock and blues history and yet he was one of the most humble men I’ve ever met. His iconic voice will forever be etched in our memories and our thoughts go out to Joe’s wife Pam and his family at this difficult time. Joe will live on in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.” Edgar Berger, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, International, who had signed Joe Cocker to Sony Music Entertainment.

Joe Cocker was born May 20, 1944 in Sheffield, England where he lived until his early 20’s. An outstanding interpreter of songs, his successes include a Number One single in the UK in November 1968 with his version of the Beatles’ ‘A Little Help from My Friends’. Joe’s career took off considerably after he performed this song at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969.

Joe enjoyed long walks in the mountains with his dogs, fly fishing in the Black Canyon, playing snooker with friends and growing tomatoes in his greenhouse year-round.

Joe Cocker is survived by his wife, Pam, of Crawford; his brother Victor Cocker of Norfolk, England; his step daughter, Zoey Schroeder of Stevenson Ranch, CA and two grandchildren, Eva & Simon Schroeder.

A private memorial is planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Cocker

Kids’ Foundation, P.O. Box 404, Crawford, CO. 81415. Read More

‘You Are So Beautiful’

Musician Joe Cocker dead at age 70.

Cocker, a song interpreter more than a songwriter, first became known through his hit cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and a characteristically manic performance at the first Woodstock festival in 1969. His raucous “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” tour of 1970 produced a film and a recording that went gold.

He had a top 10 hit in 1975 on the aching ballad “You Are So Beautiful,” with his voice cracking on the final emotional note and won his first Grammy Award in 1983 for his “Up Where We Belong” duet with Jennifer Warnes, which was the theme of the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

Cocker, who received an Order of the British Empire in 2011 for his contribution to music, released 40 albums and continued to tour after the hits dried up.

Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes: ‘Up Where We Belong’

PBA President Pat Lynch Blasts Mayor de Blasio – “Those That Allowed This To Go On Will be Called On the Carpet and Held Accountable” … Former NYC Commissioner Kelly Blames Mayor for Anti-Police Campaign

HOW DOES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NYPD AND LIBERAL MAYOR DE BLASIO EVER GET REPORTED?

PBA President Pat Lynch had some powerful words directed toward those who were responsible for creating the hostile environment and incited violence under the guise of protests. Lynch stated that many have blood on their hands and it starts at the steps of  City Hall.  Lynch also stated that, “Those That Allowed This To Go On Will be Called On the Carpet and Held Accountable.”

Why do we know de Blasio is to blames, because the NYC Mayor that was so quick to come out and throw the NYPD under the bus and talk about racism after the death of Eric Garner, he is nowhere to be found now after the assassination style deaths of officers Wenjian Lu and Rafael Ramos. Now de Blasio is in the witness protection program, hiding like a coward.

Former New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly Agrees, Mayor Bill De Blasio Ran ‘Anti-Police Campaign’

Former New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had contributed to police officers turning against him by running an “anti-police campaign” for mayor in 2013.

Kelly appeared on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday to discuss the killing of two NYPD officers. When asked by host George Stephanopoulos if it’s fair for critics to partially blame de Blasio for the death of the two cops, Kelly said the mayor had set off a “firestorm” by raising concerns over his son’s safety.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of emotion involved when two police officers are killed,” Kelly said. “When the mayor made statements about how they had to train his son, who is biracial, to be careful when he’s dealing with the police, I think that set off this latest firestorm.”

Charles Kondek,17 Year Old Veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department Shot & Killed in Florida … Rest in Peace

THIRD POLICE OFFICER MURDERED OVER THE WEEKEND …

45 year old Tarpon Springs Police Department officer Charles Kondek was shot and killed early Sunday morning. Officer Kondek was a 17 year veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department and previously worked for the NYPD for 5 years before he moved to Florida. A suspect has been arrested and identified as 23 year old Marco Antonio Parilla Jr. The cop-killer was charged with first degree murder.

A police officer in Tarpon Springs, Florida, was shot and killed early Sunday, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said.

A suspect is in custody.

The fatal shooting occurred in a residential area in the predawn hours, said Cecilia Barreda from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The slain officer, Charles Kondek, was a 17-year veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department.

Kondek, 45, was a New York City police officer for five years before moving to Florida, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., 23.

Tarpon Springs Police Officer Charles Kondek, Rest in Peace

Officer Charles Kondek, former NYPD, fatally shot in Florida.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Kondek Family and offer our deepest sympathy to them. May Charlie rest in peace and We Will Never Forget him,” the Tarpon Springs Police Department posted on Facebook.

The shooting came hours after Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, allegedly shot and killed New York Police officers Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, before taking his own life Saturday afternoon. Investigators say that just three hours before his rampage, Brinsley posted on Instagram anti-police rhetoric and threatened vengeance for the police-involved death of Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

The Tarpon Springs Police Department issued the following statement about the shooting:

With grieving hearts, the Tarpon Springs Police Department is saddened to announce the loss of Officer Charles Kondek. Ofc. Kondek served the City of Tarpon Springs as a sworn law enforcement officer for over 17 years, many of which were on the midnight shift. Originally from New York, he had previously served for over 5 years as a NYPD officer before moving to Florida.

Ofc. Kondek, who was 45 years of age, responded to a call for service shortly after 2:00 am on Dec. 21, 2014. While at the incident location, at 199 Grand Blvd., Ofc. Kondek was killed in the line of duty. TSPD officers and members of the Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue, who were summoned to assist, attended to Ofc. Kondek on-scene. He was transported to Florida Hospital North Pinellas, where he succumbed to his injuries.

NYPD Officers Turn Their Back on NYC Mayor De Blasio As He Enters Police Press Conference (VIDEO)

NYPD turn their backs on Mayor De Blasio in disgust … 

WOW, now this is a statement of protest.  Following the shooting deaths of two NYPD officers, Wenjian Lu and Rafael Ramos, WPIX posted a VIDEO from the police press conference Saturday night. In an amazing show of disgust and outrage toward NYC Mayor Bill  De Blasio, the NYPD officers turned their backs to Mayor Bill de Blasio as he walked down the hallway.

NYPD cops furious with Bill de Blasio turn their backs on the mayor as he enters hospital where officers died

The police unions have been ticked off by the support de Blasio has shown the legions protesting a Staten Island grand jury’s decision not to indict a cop in Eric Garner’s July 17 chokehold death.

New York Daily News:

Believing City Hall has betrayed them, cops demonstrated their anger Saturday by turning their backs on Mayor de Blasio as he entered a Brooklyn hospital to pay his respects to two murdered officers.

A startling video shows a hallway at Woodhull Hospital filled with officers silently facing away from de Blasio as he walks a blue gantlet.

The demonstration, captured by WPIX11 News, included the presidents of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

“Mayor de Blasio, the blood of these two officers is clearly on your hands,” Ed Mullins, president of the sergeants association, said in a statement to his union members Saturday night.

Two New York City Cops Shot ‘Execution Style’ in Revenge Attack for Eric Garner (VIDEO) (Deceased Police Officers: Wenjian Lu and Rafael Ramos) (Update: Gunman ID’d as Ismaaiyl Brinsley)

THERE IS BLOOD ON MANY INDIVIDUALS HANDS …

Two NYC police officers were assassinated Saturday afternoon as they sat in their police car in Brooklyn, NY. Without any warning, a gunman shot dead officers Wenjian Lu and Rafael Ramos as they sat in their vehicle. They were targeted and killed because they wore a police uniform. What the hell has happened to this country? Then again, it is not like race baiters and ignorantly liberal politicians have not incited these actions. The two officers were working overtime as part of an anti-terrorism drill in Bedford-Stuyvesant just before 3 p.m. when they were shot  dead at point-blank range. The gunman then fled into the subway, pursued by police where he  fatally shot himself like the coward he was.

Pics from crime scene.

NYPD officers Wenjian Lu and Rafael Ramos, God bless their souls, rest in peace.

Two uniformed NYPD officers were shot dead Saturday afternoon as they sat in their marked police car on a Brooklyn street corner — in what investigators believe was a crazed gunman’s ­assassination-style mission to avenge Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

“No warning, no provocation — they were quite simply assassinated, targeted for their uniform,” Police Commissioner William Bratton said.

Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were working overtime as part of an anti-terrorism drill in Bedford-Stuyvesant just before 3 p.m. when they were shot point-blank in the head by lone gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, who had addresses in Georgia, Maryland and Brooklyn.

Moments after killing the two officers, Brinsley, too, was dead, having turned his gun on himself on a nearby subway platform as cops closed in.

UPDATE I: 2 NYPD police officers ‘assassinated’; shooter dead.

That’s where they were slain, ambush-style — Saturday afternoon as they sat in their patrol car, New York Police Commissioner William Bratton said at an evening news conference.

The gunman approached the passenger side of the patrol car and took a shooting stance, witnesses told police. He opened fire several times, striking both officers in the head, Bratton said.

They were “shot and killed with no warning, no provocation,” Bratton told reporters. “They were quite simply, assassinated.”

 New York Police Commissioner William Bratton

UPDATE II: Gunman Identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley.

Cop Killer – Ismaaiyl Brinsley

Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were working overtime as part of an anti-terrorism drill in Bedford-Stuyvesant just before 3 p.m. when they were shot point-blank in the head by lone gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, who had addresses in Georgia, Maryland and Brooklyn.

Moments after killing the two officers, Brinsley, too, was dead, having turned his gun on himself on a nearby subway platform as cops closed in.

Brinsley was already a fugitive, suspected of putting a bullet in his ex-girlfriend’s abdomen at her residence in Baltimore at 5:45 a.m. Saturday, Bratton said.

The murder of these two police officers were targeted because of the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

By early Saturday afternoon — just three hours before shooting Liu and Ramos — vile anti-police threats were posted to Brinsley’s Instagram page. The threats referenced the ­recent police-involved killings of Garner and Brown.

“I’m Putting Wings on Pigs Today,” a person believed to be the gunman wrote. “They Take 1 Of Ours .?.?. Let’s Take 2 of Theirs,” the post continued, ending with, “This May Be My Final Post.”

The Instagram page included an image of a silver automatic handgun with a wooden handle.

UPDATE III: VIDEO Following the shooting as police and paramedics scamble to save police officers.

Warning: Video contains graphic language and content