British jazz legend Dame Cleo Laine has passed away at the age of 97.
Renowned for her extraordinary vocal range, Dame Cleo shared the stage with music icons such as Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, and holds the distinction of being the first British singer to claim a Grammy Award.
Her remarkable career took off in the 1950s, alongside her late husband, composer Sir John Dankworth. The couple went on to collaborate on numerous occasions, leaving a lasting impact on the jazz scene.
Together, they founded the esteemed Stables arts centre in Buckinghamshire, where Dame Cleo’s legacy will continue to inspire. David Meadowcroft, chairman of the centre, paid tribute to the late singer: “Dame Cleo was a remarkable performer who was loved by audiences around the world and her commitment to ensuring young people had access to great music and music education will continue through the work of The Stables.”
(Image: Mirrorpix)
Born on October 28, 1927, in Southall, Middlesex, Dame Cleo’s early life was marked by frequent moves, though most of her childhood was spent in Southall. She began taking singing and dancing lessons at a young age, but initially pursued various apprenticeships, including hat-trimming and librarianship, reports the Mirror.
However, at 24, Dame Cleo successfully auditioned for a small group led by her future husband, Sir John Dankworth. She went on to perform with several of his big bands until their marriage in 1958.
Laine graced the stage in numerous theatre productions throughout the 50s and 60s, taking on lead roles in Barry Reckord’s Flesh to a Tiger at London’s Royal Court Theatre and The Barren One. In 1971, she secured her role as Julie in Wendy Toye’s production of Show Boat at the Adelphi Theatre in London.
She also scored two major recording hits, including You’ll Answer to Me, which climbed into the UK top 10. In 1970, Laine and Dankworth founded the Stables theatre, which went on to host approximately 350 concerts annually.
Laine embarked on an international tour in 1972 with a successful trip around Australia and subsequently released six top-100 albums in the country during the 70s. Her career in the US began to take off soon after, with Laine performing at New York’s renowned Carnegie Hall.
This marked a historic moment as she became the first Brit to receive the accolade in a jazz category.
(Image: Redferns)
Laine continued to tour until 2018 in the UK, collaborating with famous names such as Julian Lloyd Webber, John Williams and Nigel Kennedy. Her duet album with Ray Charles received critical acclaim and she also performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall with Frank Sinatra in 1992 for a week-long concert series.
She had a son, Stuart, from her first marriage to roof tiler George Langridge. The couple divorced in 1957 and tragically, her son passed away before Laine did in 2019, at the age of 72.
Laine was married to her second husband Dankworth from 1958 until his death in 2010, which she announced during a concert at The Stables on the venue’s 40th anniversary.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
