Cleo Laine, the jazz singer and actress known for her distinct, husky voice has passed aged 97. Her death was announced Friday by her charity, The Stables. “She will be greatly missed but her unique talent will always be remembered.” said Monica Ferguson, the charity’s CEO and artistic director said. Born Clementine Dinah Hitching 1927 to a Jamaican immigrant father and English mother, Laine was a leading figure in the British jazz scene, boasting a four-octave range. Her humble beginning singing in pubs was quickly surpassed after she successfully auditioned for John Dankworth’s big band, the John Dankworth Seven. Dankworth became her second husband. The first song to put her on a path to stardom was,You’ll Answer To Me, which placed fifth in British pop charts on its release in 1961. Her performance at Carnegie Hall won her a Grammy in 1986, for best female jazz vocal performance. That year, Laine was nominated for a Tony for her acting as Princess Puffer on the Broadway show, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. But she also achieved the equivalent of viral fame for singing It Don’t Mean A Thing on The Muppet Show in 1977—in a duet with Swedish Chef. She was honored with a damehood by Queen Elizabeth in 1997. Laine is survived by her children, Jacqui and Alec. Lankworth died in 1997.
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