- published: 11 Sep 2012
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Dame Cleo Laine, Lady Dankworth, DBE (born 28 October 1927) is a jazz singer and an actress, noted for her scat singing and vocal range. Though her natural range is that of a contralto she is able to produce a "G above high C" giving her an overall compass of well over three octaves.
Laine is the only female performer to have received Grammy nominations in the jazz, popular and classical music categories. She is the widow of jazz composer Sir John Dankworth.
Laine was born as Clementina Dinah Campbell in Southall, Middlesex, to a black Jamaican father and an English mother who sent her to singing and dancing lessons at an early age. She attended the Board School in Featherstone Road, until recently Featherstone Primary School. She worked as an apprentice hairdresser, librarian and for a pawnbroker, became married in 1947 (divorced 1957) to George Langridge, a roof tiler, and had a son, Stuart.
Laine did not take up singing professionally until her mid-twenties. She auditioned successfully for a band led by musician John Dankworth (1927–2010), with which she performed until 1958, when she married Dankworth in secret at Hampstead Register Office. The only witnesses were the couple's friend, pianist Ken Moule, and his arranger, David Lindup. The couple had two children: Alec Dankworth and Jacqui Dankworth, both also internationally successful musicians.
Cleo Laine & John Williams - He was Beautiful (Cavatina)
Cleo Laine sings "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" (with a G above top C)
Cleo Laine & John Dankworth | I've got a crush on you | Oh, Lady be good
Cleo Laine - "Turkish Delight"
Cleo Laine & John Dankworth sing Shakespeare - LIVE! - part I
Summertime By Ray Charles & Cleo Laine
Cleo Laine - The Streets Of London , owned by sony music
Cleo Laine & John Dankworth - Interview with Jools Holland -HD-
Cleo Laine & James Galway - Sometimes When We Touch (Side One) - 1980 - 33 RPM
Cleo Laine - It don't mean a thing
It Might As Well Be Spring/Come Back To Me - Cleo Laine, 1977
Cleo Laine - Fascinating Rythm
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
I gotta right to feel low-down
I gotta right to hang around
Down around the river
A certain man in this old town
Keeps draggin' my poor (old) heart around
All I see, for me is - misery
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
I gotta right to moan and sigh
I gotta right to sit and cry
Down around the river
I know the deep blue sea
Will soon be callin' me
It must be love - say what you choose
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
I gotta right to moan and sigh
I gotta right to sit and cry
Down around the river
I know the deep blue sea
Will soon be callin' me
It must be love - say what you choose
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues