Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer (1927-2025)

25 Jul 25 - 12:54 PM (#4226215)
Subject: Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer 1927 - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage

From the BBC, Veteran jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine dies aged 97

Jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, famous for her huge vocal range and wide musical repertoire, has died at the age of 97.

In a long career, Dame Cleo was the first British singer to win a Grammy Award in a jazz category and performed with all the greats - including Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.

However, her greatest collaborator was her husband, late musician and composer John Dankworth, with whom she established her career in the 1950s.

They also set up the Stables arts centre in Buckinghamshire, which said in a statement it was "greatly saddened today by the news that one of its founders and Life President, Dame Cleo Laine has passed away".

David Meadowcroft, chairman of the Stables charity, said: "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."

Chief executive and artistic director Monica Ferguson said: "Dame Cleo was admired greatly by fans, other musicians and by The Stables staff and volunteers.

See the rest at the link.

What a voice!

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25 Jul 25 - 03:53 PM (#4226220)
Subject: RE: Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer 1927 - 2025
From: RTim

A really great singer from my earliest days....RIP

Tim Radford

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25 Jul 25 - 05:22 PM (#4226224)
Subject: RE: Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer 1927 - 2025
From: MoorleyMan

RIP Cleo, one of the great jazz singers of our time.

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25 Jul 25 - 07:54 PM (#4226228)
Subject: RE: Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer 1927 - 2025
From: Sandra in Sydney

Jazz history on line - Cleo Laine: “Shakespeare and All That Jazz” (Fontana 5209 or Philips 6382 014) I loved that song -

RIP

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26 Jul 25 - 12:47 AM (#4226233)
Subject: RE: Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer (1927-2025)
From: Backwoodsman

What a voice! RIP Great Lady.

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26 Jul 25 - 03:18 AM (#4226237)
Subject: RE: Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer (1927-2025)
From: rich-joy

So happy that I saw her and Johnny in the early 70s (Perth, West Aussie) - Cleo's concerts were a delight and somewhere, I still have some LPs that were often on turntable rotation :)

Vale, Cleo.


R-J

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26 Jul 25 - 04:40 AM (#4226243)
Subject: RE: Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer (1927-2025)
From: Roger the Skiffler

Saw her many times, including in Showboat, Johnny as well. Her son, Alec crops up on bass with groups round here too.
A great talent.
RtS

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03 Aug 25 - 08:01 AM (#4226682)
Subject: RE: Obit: Dame Cleo Laine, Jazz Singer (1927-2025)
From: Sandra in Sydney

Australia's Music Show this weekend featured - interviews with Tom Lehrer (2000) & Cleo Laine (2004) 54 min. show, first interview is with Cleo Laine

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