Acker Bilk

English recording artist; clarinetist and vocalist (1929-2014)

Born: 28 January 1929
Pensford
Died: 2 November 2014
Bath
Country: United Kingdom
Record labels: Philips Records, Polydor Records, EMI, Odeon, Atco Records
Discography: 57 albums

Biography

Acker Bilk was a jazz musician who played clarinet. Acker Bilk was born on 28 January 1929 in Pensford and died on 2 November 2014 in Bath. The music is usually filed under jazz. Record labels: Philips Records, Polydor Records, EMI and Odeon. The discography here lists 57 albums, from “Stranger on the Shore” (1961) to “Chalumeau” (2026). Honours include BBC Jazz Awards and Member of the Order of the British Empire.

Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk (28 January 1929 – 2 November 2014) was an English clarinetist and vocalist known for his breathy, vibrato-rich, lower-register style, and distinctive appearance – of goatee, bowler hat and striped waistcoat. Bilk's 1961 instrumental tune "Stranger on the Shore" became the UK's biggest selling single of 1962, spending 55 weeks on the charts and reaching No. 1 in the NME singles chart and No. 2 in the Record Retailer chart. In May 1962, it reached No. 1 on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and also took the No. 1 spot on the Year-End Hot 100 singles – becoming the first ever British artist to reach either of these Hot 100 achievements. In Canada it was number 4 for 4 weeks before peaking at number 3.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Stranger on the Shore 1961 · Columbia Records Above the Stars 1962 · ATCO Records Only You 1962 · ATCO Records

A Taste of Honey 1963

Call Me Mister 1963 · ATCO Records Mister Acker Bilk Plays "My Early Days" 1963 · Society A Touch of Latin 1964 · Metronome

Great Themes From Great European Movies 1965

Together! 1965 · ATCO Records Cocktails for Two 1966 · Metronome Dixie-Party Mit Mr. Acker Bilk Und Chris Barber 1966 · Metronome

Mood for Love 1966 · Columbia Records

London Is My Cup of Tea 1967 · Columbia Records Blue Acker 1968 · Columbia Records Mr. Acker Bilk's Folio of Great Songs 1968 · Columbia Records Ack's Back 1973 · Capri Records Some of My Favorite Things 1973 · Pye Records With Love From ... Mr. Acker Bilk Above The Stars 1973 · Capri With Love From Mr.Acker Bilk In Paris 1973 · Capri His Clarinet & Strings 1976 · 4D Records The One for Me 1976 · Pye Records Sheer Magic 1977 · Warwick Records The Best of Acker Bilk, Volume 2 1977 · Golden Hour Quiet Moments 1979 · Tee Vee Records Mellow Music 1980 Stranger On The Shore 1980 · Fontana Relaxin' 1981 · Piccadilly Together Again - It Looks Like a Big Time Tonight 1985 · Stomp Off Acker Bilk Plays Lennon & McCartney 1987 · GNP Crescendo Records Mr. Acker Bilk 1988 · Sandoz

Luck For You - Luck For Me 1989

Stranger on the Shore 1989 · Success The Love Album 1989 · Pickwick Music Acker Bilk and Gheorghe Zamfir 1991 · JB Records A Love Album for the Nineties 1998 · Bellevue Entertainment At His Best 1998 · Hey Presto! Classic Themes 1998 · Crimson Feelings 2 1998 Feelings 4 1998 Everybody's Talkin' 1999 · Newsound 2000 Winter Wonderland 1999 · Disky Mister Acker Bilk 2000 · Traditional Line Stranger on the Shore 2000 · Bianco The Greatest Of Acker Bilk 2001 · Forever Gold The Greatest Of Acker Bilk 2001 · Forever Gold I Think the Best Thing About This Record Is the Music 2007 · Bell Musik GmbH

The Christmas Album 2009

Stranger on the Shore 2010

Chalumeau 2026 · Prestige Elite Acker Bilk On The Shore · Disques Festival Feelings 3 Imagine Lansdowne Folio

Mr. Acker Bilk: The Album, Volume 1

Songbook Stranger On The Shore · Top Music The Frankfurt Concert

Awards

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Acker Bilk play?

Acker Bilk is known for playing clarinet.

When and where was Acker Bilk born?

Acker Bilk was born 28 January 1929 in Pensford.

What are Acker Bilk's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Stranger on the Shore (1961), Above the Stars (1962), Only You (1962), Call Me Mister (1963) and Mister Acker Bilk Plays "My Early Days" (1963).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.