Dame Cleo Laine, the legendary jazz singer known as the "First Lady of Jazz", has died peacefully at the age of 97. The Grammy award-winning performer was a leading figure of the British jazz scene for decades alongside her late husband, saxophonist Sir John Dankworth.
Her children, Jacqui and Alec Dankworth, announced the news in a statement expressing their "deepest sadness". They said their "dearly beloved mother" died peacefully yesterday afternoon and asked for privacy during this difficult time.
Grammy-winning career spans decades
Dame Cleo worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. She was renowned for her distinctive scat singing style and scored a UK top 10 hit in 1961 with "You'll Answer To Me".
The Stables, a charity and venue she founded with Sir John, paid tribute to "one of its founders and Life President". David Meadowcroft, chairman of the charity, praised her as "a remarkable performer who was loved by audiences around the world".
From hairdresser's assistant to jazz royalty
Born to a Jamaican father and English mother, Dame Cleo grew up in Southall, west London, where her father's busking talents supported the family. Her musical journey began with family singalongs at home, though she initially worked as a hairdresser's assistant.
She persevered through talent contests and semi-professional singing before finally auditioning for the Johnny Dankworth Seven. After marrying Sir John in 1958, she never looked back from her musical career.
Recognition and theatrical success
Dame Cleo received a Grammy award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance in 1985 and the British Jazz Awards' Life Achievement Award in 2002. Beyond jazz, she was also an accomplished actress, performing at London's Royal Court Theatre and starring in "Show Boat" at the Adelphi.
She became a dame in the 1997 Birthday Honours, saying at the time that British jazz deserved the accolade for giving her "a wonderful life" and the opportunity to work with "some of the world's most creative musicians". Sir John, who had been a mainstay of British jazz for more than 50 years, died aged 82 in 2010.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
