Acclaimed British Jazz singer Cleo Laine, known for her wide vocal range and repertoire, has died at 97 years old.
The Stables, a charity and venue Laine founded with her late jazz musician husband John Dankworth, said Friday it was “greatly saddened” by the news that “one of its founders and Life President, Dame Cleo Laine has passed away.”
While the exact circumstances surrounding her death are unknown, Laine died on July 24 at her home in Wavendon, England.
“Dame Cleo was a remarkable performer who was loved by audiences around the world,” said the chairman of the charity, David Meadowcroft.
“Her commitment to ensuring young people had access to great music and music education will continue through the work of The Stables.”
Established in 1970, The Stables is one of the UK’s leading music organizations, committed to enriching the community by making music accessible to all.
Laine and her husband initially developed this idea by holding concerts and educational activities in outbuildings on the grounds of their home.
Later, the organization opened a 438-capacity auditorium and other smaller stages featuring the world’s most renowned musicians, with 350 concerts and 250 education sessions a year.
Born as Clementina Dinah Campbell in 1927, Laine developed an early passion for music, following in the footsteps of her father, who performed as a street singer to help make ends meet.
Known for her distinct smoky voice and four-octave vocal range, Laine began her stage career in 1958 with a leading role in the play “Flesh to a Tiger” at the Royal Court Theatre, followed by other productions in the years to follow.
That same year, Laine married Dankworth after being hired as a lead vocalist for his band years earlier, and together they helped bring new audience members to the world of jazz.
She rose to prominence in 1972, with her U.S. debut at the Alice Tully Hall in New York, opening the door to established venues including Carnegie Hall and the Blue Note Jazz club.
In 1986, she won a Grammy award for her concert “Cleo at Carnegie” and throughout her career created a wide catalog of albums, including “Sometimes When We Touch,” “Cleo Laine Sings Sondheim,” “That Old Feeling,” and many others.
In 1997, Laine became the first British jazz artist to be named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the female equivalent of a knight.
Dankworth died in 2010 at the age of 82, hours before the two were set to perform a 40th anniversary concert for The Stables. Following his death, Laine continued to perform occasionally into her 90s.
Laine is survived by her son, daughter, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.