English rock legend Joe Cocker has died at the age after 70 after a “hard fought” battle with lung cancer.

The Grammy Award-winning singer shot to fame in the sixties when his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help from My Friends went to number one.

Cocker is best known for his hits Unchain My Heart and You Are So Beautiful, and was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contribution to music in 2007.

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Born in Sheffield in the UK, Cocker had been a long-term US resident, passing away at his ranch in Colorado.

A statement from the Woodstock performer’s label, Sony Music, said the musician’s success still continued today after five decades in the industry.

“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.”

“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.”

Beatles Sir Paul McCartney described Cocker as a good mate who he loved a lot and was going to miss.

“It’s really sad to hear about Joe’s passing. He was a lovely northern lad who I loved a lot and, like many people, I loved his singing,” McCartney said.

“I knew him through the years as a good mate and I was so sad to hear that he had been ill and really sad to hear today that he had passed away. He was a great guy, a lovely guy who brought so much to the world and we’ll all miss him.”

Tributes from other rock legends have begun to pour in on social media, with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler saying “we will miss you always”.

WE LOVED YOU FOREVER, WE WILL MISS YOU ALWAYS…RIP JOE COCKER.

— Steven Tyler (@IamStevenT) December 22, 2014

JOE COCKER -With A Little Help From My Friends- 1969 Woodstock.. RIP Sheffield Steel. A great, great singer. http://t.co/7qxBV7NEAX

— Simply Red (@SimplyRedHQ) December 22, 2014