| Variations of Name | Sir John Phillip William Dankworth | Johnny Dankworth |
| Biography | Sir John Dankworth, CBE was an English jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinetist and writer of film scores.
Dankworth formed his big band in 1953. The band was soon earning plaudits from the critics and was invited to the 1959 Newport Jazz Festival, the first British group to receive an invite. The band performed at the Birdland jazz club in New York City, and shortly afterwards shared the stage with the Duke Ellington Orchestra for a number of concerts. Dankworth's band also performed at a jazz event at New York's Lewisohn stadium where Louis Armstrong joined them for a set. By now, Cleo Laine's singing was a regular feature of Dankworth's recordings and public appearances. After her divorce from George Langridge became final, in 1957, Dankworth married Cleo in secret at Hampstead Registry Office in 1958. The only witnesses at the wedding were Johnny's friend, pianist Ken Moule, and arranger David Lindup. |