British Jazz Icon Cleo Laine Dies Age 97

Dame Cleo Laine, a celebrated British singer known for her extraordinary four-octave vocal range and collaborations with legends like Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, passed away at the age of 97. Laine's career, which began in the early 1950s, earned her the distinction of being the first British singer to win a Grammy Award for jazz. Despite often being labeled as a jazz singer, Laine herself resisted this categorization, emphasizing her versatility across genres including opera and Broadway. Alongside her husband, musician John Dankworth, she co-founded the Stables art centre in Buckinghamshire, dedicated to music education and supporting young musicians. Laine's early life was marked by her mixed heritage and the challenges her family faced, but her passion for music was evident from a young age, including a childhood acting debut and early vocal training. Tributes from institutions like Jazz FM and the Stables charity highlight her lasting impact on the music world and her commitment to nurturing future generations.