Singer Cleo Laine, Regarded as Britain’s Greatest Jazz Voice, Dies at 97

by

The renowned British singer Cleo Laine, known for her deep, unique contralto voice that significantly marked the jazz genre, is no more. At the age of 97, she passed away, leaving behind a lasting impact on the quintessentially American music scene.

The charitable organization and venue known as The Stables, which was established by Laine alongside her late jazz musician spouse John Dankworth, expressed deep sorrow on Friday upon learning that one of its co-founders and Life President, the renowned Dame Cleo Laine, has passed away.

Monica Ferguson, the head of The Stables, expressed that Laine’s absence will undoubtedly be felt, yet her exceptional skillset will forever remain etched in our memories.

Laine’s professional journey traversed both continents and defied categorization. She performed tunes from Kurt Weill, Arnold Schoenberg, and Robert Schumann, graced the stage for plays and films, and even embodied God in a staging of Benjamin Britten’s “Noye’s Fludde.

Laine’s life and artistic pursuits had a deep connection with band leader Dankworth, who provided her employment, her stage name (Nina), and later marriage in 1951. They continued performing even after reaching their eighties. Regrettably, Dankworth passed away in 2010 at the age of 82.

In 1997, Laine became the initial British jazz artist to be bestowed with the title of Dame, which is equivalent to a knight for women. When this honor was announced, she expressed gratitude but also emphasized that it was British jazz that truly deserved recognition for its contributions to her life. She credited jazz for providing her with an enriching lifestyle, a successful career, and opportunities to travel the world doing what she loved most.

Born as Clementina Dinah Campbell in 1927, Laine’s father, Alexander Campbell, was a Jamaican who had a passion for opera and made ends meet during the Great Depression by singing on the streets. Her British mother, Minnie, ensured that her daughter received piano, voice, and dance lessons despite their financial hardships. Laine started performing at local events at just 3 years old, and at 14, she landed a role as an extra in the movie “The Thief of Bagdad.” After leaving school, she worked as a hairdresser and faced numerous rejections while trying to establish herself as a singer.

In the year 1997, Laine became the pioneering British jazz artist to be bestowed with the title of Dame, which is equivalent to a knight for women. When this honor was announced, she expressed gratitude and attributed her success to British jazz, stating that it had provided her with an enriching life, a prosperous career, and the chance to traverse the world while pursuing her passion.

Laine, originally named Clementina Dinah Campbell, was born in 1927. Her father, Alexander Campbell, hailed from Jamaica and had a deep affection for opera. During the Great Depression, he earned a living as a street singer. Despite the challenging times, her British mother, Minnie, ensured that Laine received piano, voice, and dance lessons at a young age.

At just 3 years old, Laine started performing in local events. By the time she was 12, she landed a role as an extra in the movie “The Thief of Bagdad.” Leaving school at 14, she took up work as a hairdresser and faced numerous rejections when attempting to secure a singing job.

About ten years after, in the year 1951, she auditioned for the Johnny Dankworth Seven and managed to secure the spot. Due to “Clementina Campbell” being considered too lengthy for a marquee, she adopted the stage name Cleo Laine instead.

Once, Laine mentioned that John had commented on how unique my singing sounded compared to others performing at the time. It seems likely that I missed out on other job opportunities because they were searching for singers whose style resembled someone else’s.

Laine had a remarkable range, from tenor to contralto, and a sound often described as “smoky.”

Dankworth, in an interview with the Irish Independent, recalled Laine’s audition.

Everyone sat there with stern expressions, so I inquired from the gloomy-looking Scottish trumpet player, Jimmy Deuchar, who seemed to be the most reserved among them, if he believed she possessed anything of value. ‘Anything?’ he replied, ‘She has it all!’

Offered 6 pounds a week, Laine demanded — and got — 7 pounds.

She once went by the nickname ‘Scruff’, but she never considered herself scruffy. This was simply because, having grown up in rural areas, her skills at dressing or presenting herself weren’t as polished as those of other singers during that time. Additionally, she didn’t have the financial means to improve her appearance, as she wasn’t being paid enough. She shared this with the Irish Independent.

Recognition swiftly followed for Laine: she placed second in Melody Maker’s “girl singer” category in 1952, and topped the list in both 1956 and 1957.

In 1958, she married Dankworth, a move she made a year after divorcing her first husband, George Langridge. However, as Dankworth’s band flourished, Laine felt underutilized. In a BBC documentary, she shared, “I decided I wasn’t going to just sit back and sing occasionally when he wanted; I was going to pursue a solo career.”

When she announced her departure from the band, Dankworth proposed, saying, “That was a clever move, wasn’t it?” They married on March 18, 1958. Their son Alec was born in 1960, and daughter Jacqueline arrived in 1963.

Despite her contented marriage, Laine established an independent career separate from Dankworth. In a 1985 interview with The Associated Press, she stated, “Whenever someone tries to label me, I say, ‘No, you don’t,’ and then I do something different.” This was when she was performing in New York in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”

Her theatrical career began in 1958, when she was invited to join the cast of a West Indian play, “Flesh to a Tiger,” at the Royal Court Theatre. Surprisingly, she found herself in the lead role and won a Moscow Arts Theatre Award for her performance.

In the realm of theater, I stepped into some iconic roles between the years 1959 to 1970. First came “Valmouth”, followed by “The Seven Deadly Sins” a few years later in ’61. Fast forward to ’66, and I graced the stage as “The Trojan Women”. Lastly, in ’70, I played Hedda Gabler – quite the journey, wasn’t it?

In 1971, the character of Julie in “Show Boat” by Jerome Kern presented Laine with an unforgettable number, titled “Bill.”

Or simply:

In 1971, playing Julie in “Show Boat” gave Laine a memorable song called “Bill.

In 1972, Laine started gaining an audience in the U.S. with a performance at Alice Tully Hall in New York City. Despite a modest turnout, The New York Times praised her highly in their review.

The following year, she and Dankworth performed to a full house at Carnegie Hall, marking the start of numerous successful performances. “Cleo at Carnegie” received a Grammy award in 1986, coincidentally the same year she was nominated for a Tony for “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

In 2002, a critic from Variety praised her vocal prowess, stating that her voice was deep and rich, boasting an impressive range and precision from profound contralto to delicate soprano. Her pitch and delivery were consistently accurate, enhanced by a touch of artistic flair and refined sensibility.

It’s possible that Laine’s most challenging performance took place on February 6, 2010, at a commemorative concert for the 40th anniversary of the concert venue they (Laine and Dankworth) had established in their own home. On this occasion, Laine and her two children were all part of the performance.

At the conclusion of the show, Laine informed everyone with deep regret that Sir John couldn’t make it because unfortunately, earlier today, her husband passed away in the hospital.

In a 2003 interview with the Boston Globe, Laine mentioned that her long life might be due to the fact she wasn’t a full-throated singer all the time.

I’ve always had a guardian instinct within me, and there was a constant inner whisper, ‘Steer clear of that – it’s not beneficial for you or your wellbeing.’

Laine is survived by her son and daughter.

Read More

2025-07-25 22:55