Joe Cocker has died following a battle with lung cancer.

The singer was 70 years old and passed away earlier today (December 22) according to his management, reports ITV News. Cocker’s agent Barrie Marshall released a statement regarding his death, saying: “it will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts.”

Born in Sheffield in May 1944, the gravely voiced soul, blues and rock singer was well known for his cover of The Beatles’ ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’. ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ was also the name of his first album, which he released in 1969 and also featured covers of songs by Bob Dylan. He released 22 solo albums, the last being ‘Fire It Up’ in 2012.

A statement released by his record label Sony, reads: “John Robert Cocker, known to family, friends, his community and fans around the world as Joe Cocker, passed away on December 22, 2014 after a hard fought battle with small cell lung cancer. Mr Cocker was 70 years old. Joe Cocker was born 5/20/1944 in Sheffield, England where he lived until his early 20’s. In 2007 he was awarded the OBE by the Queen of England. His international success as a blues/rock singer began in 1964 and continues till this day. Joe created nearly 40 albums and toured extensively around the globe.”

Cocker performed at the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969 and also at the Woodstock ’94 anniversary festival. During a recent concert in New York, singer Billy Joel told the crowd that Cocker was not well, and requested he be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.