John Dankworth
September 20, 1927 – February 6, 2010
Sir John Dankworth was a highly regarded English jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and composer. Dankworth gravitated toward music while still a child, so he took piano, violin, and finally, clarinet lessons. As a teen, attended the Royal Academy of Music, and by the late ’40s, he was an up-and-coming star of the British jazz scene. During his early years, he played with the likes of Sidney Bechet and Charlie Parker. During the late ’50s, he started composing music form film and television, his most famous being the theme song for the early ’60s British television series, The Avengers. In later years, Dankworth performed on stage with such legends as Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Herbie Hancock and Oscar Peterson. John Dankworth continued to perform and compose well into the 21st century. He passed away on February 6, 2010 at the age of 82.