Bought a second-hand Cleo Laine album the other day. It had a signed by her photograph attached to it. Not a print - a real photograph. To say I nearly lost my shit is an understatement 🤣
She was such an icon ❤️
I checked her signature online to see if it was really hers, and it is 😍
I have no idea who Jo is, but he or she can rest assured that this will be treasured for the rest of my life!
#LoveMusic #CleoLaine #OneOfTheAllTimeGreats #WhataVoice #JohnDankworth
A Swingin', Singin' Affair by Mark Murphy, released on Fontana in 1965.
A rare British session from vocalist Mark Murphy -- and one of his grooviest albums of the 60s! Mark's working here with great backings from the orchestras of Tubby Hayes, John Dankworth, and Les Reed -- all of whom give Murphy some of his hippest grooves to date, very much in the mode of some of his work on the Midnight Mood album cut for MPS during the same overseas 60s stretch. And as with that one, there's a nice selection of tunes that goes way past the usual -- and which shows off the widest range of Murphy's groovy vocal talents -- titles that include "Ballyhoo", "Iceberg", "Stablemates", "She Loves You", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", "From Time To Time", and "The Best Is Yet To Come" - Dusty Groove
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcbRRdlkZ1k
#MarkMurphy #TubbyHayes #JohnDankworth #VocalJazz #BritJazz #Music #Beatles #Swing
She's The Tops! by Cleo Laine, released on MGM Records in 1957.
Dame Cleo Laine, Lady Dankworth (born Clementine Dinah Bullock; 28 October 1927 – 24 July 2025) was an English singer and actress known for her scat singing. She was the wife of jazz composer and musician Sir John Dankworth and the mother of bassist Alec and singer Jacqui Dankworth. Laine had popular success with singles such as "You'll Answer To Me" and appeared in a range of musical theatre productions... - Wikipedia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C48j1HM_so&list=RD9C48j1HM_so&start_radio=1
R.I.P. Cleo Laine (1927-2025)
Cleo Laine in concert in 1980.I just heard the very sad news of the death at the age of 97 of that great jazz singer, Cleo Laine. Although stylistically related to Sarah Vaughan, her voice was instantly recognisable. It always struck me that most British jazz singers would adopt an American accent when performing, but Cleo Laine always kept a very crisp diction and sounded very English…
I think it’s her musical and personal partnership with John Dankworth (who passed away in 2010) for which she will be known best. He hired Cleo Laine as a singer for his small band in 1951; they married in 1958 and remained together for over 50 years, until separated by John’s death.
I think it is appropriate to use this lovely version of George Gershwin’s great tune Lady be Good (with lyircs by his brother Ira) as a tribute. It’s always good to end on a high note. John Dankworth takes a back seat – as he often did when Cleo was singing – but the band is in great form. Unfortunately there is no personnel listing, apart from John Dankworth. The small band you see and hear here was drawn from his larger orchestra and many of the musicians therein doubled on different instruments. The vibes player, for example, could be Alan Branscombe, who also played piano. Or he could be the pianist. The trumpeter could very well be a young Kenny Wheeler.
Anyway, if you didn’t realise what a terrific vocalist Cleo Laine was, then pin back your lugholes around 2 minutes in where she demonstrates a range and level of vocal ontrol that would put many opera singers to shame.
Irma 
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Andi Chorley
The 🫠 ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ BBC Radio 3 🎶 #NowPlaying Bot
In the Dark
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