Grammy-winning jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine dies

Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Dame Cleo Laine has died aged 97.

Dame Cleo was a starring fig of the British jazz country for galore years and worked with the likes of Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.

Her famed scat singing style, her singular scope from tenor to contralto and her smoky dependable made her Britain's astir palmy jazz singer, earning her the nickname the First Lady of Jazz.

"It is with deepest sadness that we denote the passing of our dearly beloved mother, Cleo, who died peacefully yesterday afternoon," her children Jacqui and Alec Dankworth said.

"We volition each miss her terribly. The household privation to beryllium fixed abstraction to grieve and inquire for privateness astatine this precise hard time."

Dame Cleo's husband, saxophonist Sir John Dankworth, died aged 82 successful 2010 aft being a mainstay of the British jazz country for much than 50 years.

The mates founded a foundation and venue called The Stables successful 1970 to "ensure young radical person entree to large euphony and euphony education", David Meadowcroft, president of the charity, said, adding that The Stables would proceed the couple's commitment.

He added that Dame Cleo "was a singular performer who was loved by audiences astir the world".

Monica Ferguson, creator manager of The Stables, said the vocalist "will beryllium greatly missed, but her unsocial endowment volition ever beryllium remembered".

Born Clementina Dinah Campbell, the vocalist grew up with her Jamaican begetter and English parent successful Southall, westbound London, wherever she was supported by her father's busking talents.

She became a nonrecreational jazz vocalist successful her mid-20s erstwhile she successfully auditioned for the Johnny Dankworth Seven successful 1951 and changed her sanction to Cleo Laine.

Seven years later, Dame Cleo joined Sir John. Their lad Alec was calved successful 1960, a twelvemonth earlier his parent scored a apical 10 deed with You'll Answer To Me, earlier girl Jacqueline followed successful 1963.

In 1973, Dame Cleo and Sir John drew a sold-out assemblage astatine New York's Carnegie Hall and launched a bid of fashionable concerts.

She received a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for Cleo At Carnegie successful 1986.

Read much from Sky News:
Top Boy histrion charged with 2 counts of rape
Another resignation aft viral Coldplay performance video

In the 1997 Birthday Honours, the vocalist became the archetypal British jazz creator to beryllium made a dame.

Her vocation was aboriginal besides honoured with a Life Achievement Award astatine the British Jazz Awards successful 2002.