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Singers · 1927–2025

Cleo Laine

English jazz singer and actress (1927–2025)

Born: 28 October 1927
Southall
Died: 24 July 2025
Wavendon
Country: United Kingdom
Active: 1950–2018
Record labels: Black Lion Records
Discography: 30 albums

Biography

Cleo Laine was a jazz musician who played voice. Cleo Laine was born on 28 October 1927 in Southall and died on 24 July 2025 in Wavendon. The music is usually filed under jazz and pop music. Record labels: Black Lion Records. The discography here lists 30 albums, from “She's The Tops!” (1957) to “Quality Time” (2002). Honours include honorary Master of Arts (1975), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1979) and Theatre World Award (1986).

Dame Cleo Laine, Lady Dankworth (born Clementine Dinah Bullock; 28 October 1927 – 24 July 2025) was a British singer and actress known for her scat singing. She was the wife of jazz composer and musician Sir John Dankworth and the mother of bassist Alec and singer Jacqui Dankworth. Laine had popular success with singles such as "You'll Answer To Me" and appeared in a range of musical theatre productions. She received a number of awards and honours including appointment as an OBE in 1979, and a Grammy in 1986; she became a dame in 1997.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

She's The Tops! 1957

Palladium Jazz Date 1961 · Live

All About Me 1962

Shakespeare and All That Jazz 1964

If We Lived on the Top of a Mountain 1968

Portrait 1971

I Am a Song 1973

Best Friends 1976

Born on a Friday 1976

Feel the Warm 1976

Return To Carnegie 1977 · Live

Gonna Get Through 1978

Colette (Original Cast Soundtrack) 1980

Sometimes When We Touch 1980

Cleo at Carnegie: The 10th Anniversary Concert 1983 · Live

Let The Music Take You 1983

Wordsongs 1986

That Old Feeling 1987

Woman To Woman 1989

Jazz 1991

Nothing Without You 1992

Smilin' Through 1992

Cleo Laine - Live at Carnegie Hall 1993 · Live

A Beautiful Thing 1994

Blue and Sentimental 1994

Solitude 1995

Cleo Laine Christmas at the Stables 1999

Live in Manhattan 2001 · Live

Quality Time 2002

Cleo Sings Sondheim

Awards

1975 honorary Master of Arts
1979 Officer of the Order of the British Empire
1986 Theatre World Award
1997 Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
BBC Jazz Awards

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Cleo Laine play?

Cleo Laine is known for playing voice.

When and where was Cleo Laine born?

Cleo Laine was born 28 October 1927 in Southall.

What are Cleo Laine's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include She's The Tops! (1957), Palladium Jazz Date (1961), All About Me (1962), Shakespeare and All That Jazz (1964) and If We Lived on the Top of a Mountain (1968).

External links

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