CHRIS CORNELL – In Memoriam: (1964 –2017)

by Randy “Rocket” Cody

You’ve heard the saying about someone who is truly phenomenal at their craft only coming around maybe once every hundred years?

Ladies and gentleman, there will not ever be another rock performer on the level of SOUNDGARDEN and AUDIOSLAVE vocalist Chris Cornell… for at least another one thousand years.

If there was ever anyone who actually earned the title of greatest rock vocalist of all time, I do believe it is none other than Chris Cornell.

While he certainly left this world far too soon on May 18, 2017, after performing a concert in Detroit at only 52 years of age, the one thing that remains is that ungodly golden VOICE of his, forever stamped on all of those great recordings. He might be gone, so viciously torn away from his adoring fans who still mourn his profound loss all around the world to this very moment, but nobody will ever be able to strip away the VOICE of this legendary rock giant.



Yes, his body is gone, but the man’s beautiful VOICE & SPIRIT in the music he made… will live on forever.

Elvis Presley, Robert Plant, Joe Cocker … sure they are great names. But come on, not one of those rock hall of famers had true glass shattering four octave vocal range… Chris did.

He blew them all away and made it look damn easy. Don’t get me wrong, Elvis, you wore a mean white jumpsuit, but if “The King” could have chosen his voice or to be blessed with the one Chris had, I think he would have dropped the fried peanut butter jelly and banana sandwich, jumped up and said: “Hell yeah, I want to sound like that guy!”

The legend that is Chris Cornell’s singing talent itself will now continue to stagger minds for eternity. Part howling shaman, part electrified hellcat, part bluesy preacher, this rare talent displayed a mega-powerful, raging roar that would thunderclap you into musical euphoria.



Yet, with the flip of a switch he could next produce the most sweet and tender sounding ballads I have ever heard in my entire life. He was undoubtedly blessed with an uncanny ability to write ‘break your heart in half’ lyrics.

Chris Cornell was a true rock star poet just like THE DOOR’s Jim Morrison.

“Black Hole Sun”, “Rusty Cage”, “Jesus Christ Pose”, Seattle, Washington’s SOUNDGARDEN fronted by Cornell quickly established themselves throughout the nineties as one of the biggest rock acts on planet earth, emerging out of the gritty, go for broke grunge scene inhabited by the likes of NIRVANA and PEARL JAM.

There was so much that he accomplished beyond music too, being a proud husband, father, and accomplished philanthropist, who donated millions to abused children all over the globe
via his personal charitable foundation.

Chris should not be remembered for anything other than the beautiful human being he was, imperfections and all, with a far reaching strength, dignity and eloquence delivered via his unique, jaw dropping singing ability.