Sir John Dankworth, a pillar of the British jazz scene for over 60
years, has died, his family confirmed.
The saxophonist Sir John, 82, was music director of the likes of Nat
King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald.
Sir John, known as Johnny, was defeated in 2006 for services to music
for the Knights. He died at the King Edward VII Hospital in London on
Saturday.
His wife, singer Dame Cleo Laine, gave his death at a concert in his
theater in Buckinghamshire.
The concert was to celebrate 40 years in theater, where the couple
built on the grounds of his home in Wavendon.
In a statement, the agent: The concert star said, with many stars of
the British stage, film and recording was a tribute to John. It was
hailed by Jazzwise magazine as one of the totemic figures of British
jazz and Only the United Kingdom jazz musician.
His agent, Jim Murtha, speaking from New York, told the BBC it was a
sad day.
Murtha added: For the British jazz and jazz around the world, I think
John has to an international figure, especially since he became Sir
John Dankworth years. In your Twitter page, the famous jazz singer
Jamie Cullum, Sir John as a genius .
He writes: Sir John Dankworth, a great man and one of our best
musicians and songwriters, has died. Rest in peace, sir. Send us your
comments, Sir John and Dame Cleo met in 1950 when he was an audition
for the singer with his band, the Dankworth Seven.
It also leaves a son and a daughter, both jazz musicians.
In 1993, Sir John Dankworth Generation founded the band with his son
Alec.
Having a place at the Royal Academy of Music 17 years, and after a
short time in the army, was the young John as Lord British musicians of
1949.
In the same year he attended the Paris Jazz Festival, where he met the
legendary Charlie Parker.
In 1960 Sir John received films like Saturday night and Sunday
morning, the servant and Modesty Blaise, and wrote the title song from
The Avengers and the world of tomorrow.
Sir John and Dame Cleo, he founded his love, the Wavendon Allmusic
Plan, in 1969, which led to the creation of the team.
It was founded in the CBE in 1974 and the London Symphony Orchestra
Summer Pops in 1985.
Sir John was a member of the Royal Academy of Music and received the
Freedom of the City of London in 1994.