Dame Cleo Laine, the Grammy-winning jazz singer renowned for her astonishing vocal range, scat singing mastery, and pioneering influence on British jazz, has died at the age of 97.
Dame Cleo passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, according to a statement from her children, Jacqui and Alec Dankworth.
‘It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of our beloved mother Cleo’s passing,’ they said.
‘She brought so much music and light into the world and into our lives. We ask for privacy as we remember her with love and gratitude.’
Over a career spanning eight decades, she became a defining voice of British jazz, admired for her rich contralto tone, adventurous improvisation, and theatrical flair.
She shared stages and studios with legends including Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra. She was celebrated not only for her musical brilliance but also for blazing a trail for women and artists of colour in a genre then dominated by American men.
Born Clementina Dinah Campbell in 1927 in Southall, west London, to a Jamaican father and English mother, Laine grew up in a musical household and began her working life as a hairdresser and part-time singer.
Her breakthrough came in 1951 when she successfully auditioned for saxophonist Johnny Dankworth’s band.
Their professional collaboration soon blossomed into a lifelong partnership – the couple married in 1958 and remained together until Dankworth’s death in 2010.
Laine’s career highlights included her historic 1973 performance at Carnegie Hall, which cemented her international reputation, and her Grammy win in 1986 for Cleo at Carnegie: The 10th Anniversary Concert.
She also made history as the only female performer to be nominated for a Grammy in jazz, classical, and popular music categories.
In 1997, she became the first British jazz singer to be made a dame, an honour that reflected her unique contribution to the nation’s cultural life.
Her accolades included honorary degrees, lifetime achievement awards, and a devoted fanbase that stretched from Soho jazz clubs to the world’s grandest concert halls.
Beyond the stage, Dame Cleo was deeply committed to music education.
With her husband, she founded The Stables music venue and charity in Wavendon in 1970, transforming a converted stable block into a nationally recognised centre for performance and learning.
David Meadowcroft, chairman of The Stables Trust, paid tribute to her legacy: ‘Cleo and John’s vision was to create a place where music could thrive for all. Her loss is profound, but her passion continues through the lives she inspired.’
Artistic director Monica Ferguson added: ‘Dame Cleo was a once-in-a-generation talent, but also a warm, generous mentor. Her voice and spirit will echo through these walls for years to come.’
Cleo Laine is survived by her two children, both musicians in their own right. Her son Alec is an acclaimed jazz bassist and composer; daughter Jacqui, a singer and former Eurovision entrant.
A private funeral will be held, with a public memorial concert planned for later this year to honour a voice – and a woman – that reshaped British jazz forever.
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