Dame Cleo Laine dead: Singer who became first Brit to win Grammy in jazz dies

Jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine has died aged 97.

The legendary star, known for her incredible vocal range, performed with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles and became the first British singer to win a Grammy Award.

She first established her career with late husband and composer John Dankworth in the 1950s, with the couple going on to collaborate many times together over the years.

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The couple went on to create the Stables artis centre in Buckinghamshire, with its chairman David Meadowcroft sharing a statement today over the sad news of her death. He said: "Dame Cleo was a remarkable performer who was loved by audiences around the world and her commitment to ensuring young people had access to great music and music education will continue through the work of The Stables."

Laine born on October 28 1927 in Southall, Middlesex, to labourer and busker Alexander Sylvan Campbell and Minnie Bullock, a farmer's daughter. Most of her childhood was spent in Southall, but the family moved frequently.

She began singing and dancing lessons at an early age, but went on to work as an apprentice for a variety of jobs, including as a hat-trimmer and librarian.

However, Laine managed to successfully audition when she was 24 for a small group with husband-to-be Dankworth's small group. She then performed with a number of his big bands until 1958, the year they wed.

Laine starred in a number of theatre productions through the 50s and 60s, including as the lead in Barry Reckord's Flesh to a Tiger at London's Royal Court Theatre and the title role in The Barren One. In 1971, she landed her role as Julie in Wendy Toye's production of Show Boat at the Adelphi Theatre in London in 1971.

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