John ‘Johnny’ Dankworth, CBE – born September 20, 1927 in Woodford, Essex, England – was a jazz and soundtrack composer, saxophonist, clarinetist, and educator. He was married to British vocalist, Dame Cleo Laine from 1958 until his death in 2010. Growing up in a family of musicians, he took violin and piano lessons, but after hearing the Benny Goodman Quartet at the age of 16, he settled on the clarinet. He then heard Johnny Hodges, which inspired him to learn to play the saxophone. Johnny Dankworth began his jazz music career after studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London and serving time in the Royal Air Force. After meeting Charlie Parker at the Paris Jazz Festival in 1949, he was referred to saxophonist Sidney Bechet, who hired Johnny Dankworth for a Swedish tour. Johnny Dankworth’s next move was to form a small group in 1950 called the Dankworth Seven. After three years, he disbanded the group and formed Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra in 1953. The band was an instant hit, with many critics comparing them to the classic big bands from the previous decade. The band, which would often feature British jazz vocalist (and wife) Cleo Laine, released a series of records in the 1950s including the singles “S’Wonderful” (1953), “Perdido” (1954), “Feather Merchant” (1955), and “Blues in the Night” plus the EPs and albums Journey into Jazz (1956), Bundle from Britain (1959), and The Vintage Years (1959). Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra’s recording of “African Waltz” was a huge hit in 1961, peaking at Number 9 and staying in the charts for 21 weeks. The song inspired American saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, who requested Johnny Dankworth’s permission to record his arrangement of the song. In 1965, Johnny Dankworth – billed as John Dankworth - and His Orchestra released the album Zodiac Variations, which included guest performances from Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, and many other guests. Johnny Dankworth continued to release albums throughout the 1960s and early 1970s but the group’s leader, who would revert to the name John Dankworth, began to focus on composing film and television scores and the orchestra was eventually laid to rest. John Dankworth continued to compose and record until 2009. In 2006, John Dankworth was made a Knight Bachelor in the New Year’s Honours List. He died on February 6, 2010 at the age of 82.
