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John Dankworth

Biography

A lot of the globe knew John Dankworth greatest while Cleo Laine’s longtime spouse and accompanist, but he was a reliable, otherwise especially inventive, participant for many years. He began his career inside a novelty and traditional ensemble known as the Garbage Males, led by Freddy Mirfield. Dankworth analyzed in the Royal Academy of Music from 1944-1946, after that started playing on transatlantic liners to be able to go to America and hear jazz. He turned to alto sax in the past due ’40s, and in 1948 was a founding person in the Golf club Eleven. He started the Johnny Dankworth Seven in 1950, and from 1953 to 1964 led a big jazz band offering Laine. Several top players approved through, included in this Derek Smith, Alan Branscombe, Danny Moss, Peter Ruler, Ronnie Ross, and comic/acting professional Dudley Moore. Dankworth became Laine’s music movie director in 1971 and trimmed the music group right down to ten items. Then in the first ’80s he created a touring quintet. Dankworth’s profile like a composer was larger than as a new player; he published operatic works, items for any jazz music group with symphony orchestra, and film ratings. In 1969 he and Laine created the Wavendon Allmusic Strategy, a cultural business presenting worldwide performers out of every sphere in its 300 chair concert hall. Dankworth also offered a huge selection of lectures and carried out classes, workshops, and workshops, and in 1974 was honored for his efforts to jazz in Britain. Dankworth passed away in London on Feb 6, 2010, at age group 86 after almost a year of illness.

Quick Facts


Full Name John Dankworth
Died February 6, 2010, Marylebone, United Kingdom
Profession Film Score Composer, Saxophonist, Clarinetist
Education Royal Academy of Music, Sir George Monoux College
Nationality British
Spouse Cleo Laine
Children Jacqui Dankworth, Alec Dankworth
Awards NME Award for Outstanding Alto Sax Player
Music Songs Fear No More, African Waltz, Modesty Blaise, Experiments With Mice, Two Piece Flower, Bossa Palma Nova, Honeysuckle Rose, Modesty Blaise: Main Theme, My Love Is as a Fever, The Slider, Moanin', Lightly Politely, Return From The Ashes, Shall I Compare Thee, Leon Bismarck, Mark 1, Export Blues, It's The Talk Of The Town, Swingin’, Ice Is Nice, Strictly Confidential, Two Ticks, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Beefeaters, Fathom's Theme, The Avengers Theme, All Gone, Take All My Loves, Spread a Little Happiness, Get Happy, Singin’ In The Rain, Vacation Chase
Albums Shakespeare and All That Jazz, Movies 'N' Me, Zodiac Variations, What the Dickens!, Get Happy, If We Lived On the Top of a Mountain, Modesty Blaise, Live in Manhattan, Jazz Matters, Bop At Club 11, Itinerary Of An Orchestra, Nowhere to Go-the Criminal, Vol. 6, Themes and Variations, Gentleman Of Jazz, Britain's Ambassador To Jazz - Live At The Newport Jazz Festival + "The Criminal", Workshop, JadyAdie, Metro, Johnny's Big Jazz Story, Vol. 4, Misty, Themes and Variations, Vol. 2, Cool for the Blues, Stompin' At The Savoy: Classic Johnny Dankworth, Collection, Bundle From Britain, Journey Into Jazz (Remastered 2015), What the Dickens / OST the Criminal, Quick Return, Johnny's Big Jazz Story, Vol. 3, Three Classic Albums Plus (The Vintage Years / Collaboration / England's Ambassador of Jazz) [Remastered], Let’s Slip Away: Film and TV 1960-1973, Vol. 1 & 2, Jazz Routes, JD5, Johnny's Big Jazz Story, Vol. 1, Jazz Today Volume 4, George Martin Presents..., Symphonic Fusions, The Greatest Hits Collection, John Dankworth's Fair Oak Fusions, Johnny Dankworth / Let's Slip Away - Film And TV 1960 - 1973 (2CD Set), BeBop In Britain 3, Fathom - Original Soundtrack Recording, Coquette, Collaboration!, Johnny's Big Jazz Story, Vol. 2, Collaboration (Remastered), In A Mellow Tone, Journey Into Jazz, 5 Steps to Dankworth, England's Ambassador of Jazz, London to Newport
Nominations NME Award for British Vocal Personality
Movies The Servant, Modesty Blaise, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, 10 Rillington Place, Return from the Ashes, Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment, Sands of the Kalahari, The Criminal, Accident, Fathom, Gangster No. 1, Darling, The Magus, We Are the Lambeth Boys, Perfect Friday, The Last Safari, Salt and Pepper, The Idol, The Last Grenade, Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang), The Kingfisher Caper, The Other People


  • Facts
  • Filmography
  • Awards
  • Salaries
  • Quotes
  • Trademarks
  • Pictures

#Fact
1 He was awarded Knighthood in the 2006 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to music.
2 Father of Jacqui Dankworth and Alec Dankworth.
3 He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 1974.


Music Department

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells 2000 TV Movie music arranger: Cleo Laine's songs
No Strings 1989 TV Series composer - 7 episodes
Telford's Change 1979 TV Series composer: theme music
The Medusa Touch 1978 composer: additional music - uncredited
The Kingfisher Caper 1975 conductor
The Jack Jones Show 1973 TV Series arranger
ITV Saturday Night Theatre 1972 TV Series music by - 1 episode
Bird's-Eye View 1969-1971 TV Series documentary composer - 13 episodes
10 Rillington Place 1971 conductor
Perfect Friday 1970 conductor / music arranger
The Last Grenade 1970 conductor
Canterbury Tales 1969 TV Series conductor - 1 episode
Love You Madly: A Salute to Duke Ellington 1969 TV Movie arranger
The Magus 1968 conductor
Salt and Pepper 1968 conductor
The Last Safari 1967 conductor
Fathom 1967 conductor
Modesty Blaise 1966 conductor
The Idol 1966 musical director
Sands of the Kalahari 1965 conductor
Return from the Ashes 1965 musical director
Darling 1965 conductor
Tomorrow's World 1965 TV Series documentary composer: signature tune - 1967-1981
The Avengers TV Series composer and performer - 52 episodes, 1962 - 1964 composer - 26 episodes, 1961
The Servant 1963 conductor
Hamilton the Musical Elephant 1961 Short musician: saxophone - uncredited
Concrete Jungle 1960 conductor - as Johnny Dankworth
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning 1960 conductor - as Johnny Dankworth
Sapphire 1959 musician: saxophone - as Johnny Dankworth
The Whole Truth 1958 musician: saxophone - as Johnny Dankworth

Composer

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) 2001
Gangster No. 1 2000 music composed by
Screen One 1993 TV Series 1 episode
Mitch 1984 TV Series 10 episodes
Telford's Change 1979 TV Series 5 episodes
The Kingfisher Caper 1975
Pianorama 1974 Short
Ooh La La! 1973 TV Series 7 episodes
10 Rillington Place 1971
The World of Survival 1971 TV Series documentary
Perfect Friday 1970
NBC Experiment in Television 1970 TV Series 1 episode
The Last Grenade 1970
Canterbury Tales 1969 TV Series 1 episode
The Magus 1968
The Other People 1968
Salt and Pepper 1968
Survival 1961-1968 TV Series documentary 6 episodes
The Last Safari 1967
Fathom 1967
Accident 1967
Modesty Blaise 1966
The Idol 1966
Morgan! 1966
Scruggs 1965
Sands of the Kalahari 1965
Return from the Ashes 1965
Darling 1965
Beyond the Fringe 1964 TV Movie documentary as Johnny Dankworth
The Servant 1963
Hamilton in the Music Festival 1962 Short as Johnny Dankworth
Hamilton the Musical Elephant 1961 Short as Johnny Dankworth
Concrete Jungle 1960 as Johnny Dankworth
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning 1960 as Johnny Dankworth
The Voodoo Factor 1959-1960 TV Series 6 episodes
We Are the Lambeth Boys 1959 Documentary as Johnny Dankworth

Soundtrack

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Doctor Blake Mysteries 2013 TV Series writer - 1 episode
Scents and Sensibility 2011 writer: "The Man"
Sir John Dankworth at the BBC 2010 TV Movie performer: "Take the A Train", "Winter Wail", "Just In Time", "African Waltz", "Mark One", "Ghosts", "Woman Talk", "A Hogs Head of Hogarth", "The Pink Panther" Theme from "The Pink Panther", "Baby Elephant Walk" Theme from "Hatari", "Unlucky Woman Born On Friday", "Twos Company", "Make Someone Happy", "Wave", "Cop This", "Donna Lee", "Crazy Rhythm", "What's Your Flava'" 2003, "Fine and Mellow" / writer: "Winter Wail", "Mark One", "Ghosts", "A Hogs Head of Hogarth", "Twos Company", "Cop
YellowBrickRoad 2010 performer: "Stomping On The Goodside", "Redwood Trail" / writer: "Stomping On The Goodside", "Redwood Trail"
The Paul O'Grady Show 2007 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Gangster No. 1 2000 arranger: "The Good Life" / music: "The Good Life"
Screen Two 1989 TV Series music - 1 episode
Together 1981 TV Series writer - 25 episodes
Boom! 1968 music: "Hideaway"
Fathom 1967 performer: "Fathom's Theme", "Jump To The Villa", "Bossa Palma Nova", "Horseback Ride", "Bullring", "Fathom's Arrival", "Tango Sinister", "The Merriwether Affair", "Chorale To A Scuba-Driver", "Vacation Chase", "Happy Landings" / writer: "Fathom's Theme", "Jump To The Villa", "Bossa Palma Nova", "Horseback Ride", "Bullring", "Fathom's Arrival", "Tango Sinister", "The Merriwether Affair", "Chorale To A Scuba-Driver", "Vacation Chase", "Happy Landings"
Modesty Blaise 1966 music: "Modesty Blaise", "The End We Should've" / writer: "Ice Is Nice"
The Idol 1966 performer: "Empty Arms And Empty Heart", "The Idol", "The Seducer", "The Party", "Title Music", "Won't You Believe Me", "There's A Fight Outside", "The Houseboat Set", "End Title Music" / writer: "Empty Arms And Empty Heart", "The Idol", "The Seducer", "The Party", "Title Music", "Won't You Believe Me", "There's A Fight Outside", "The Houseboat Set", "End Title Music"
Morgan! 1966 arranger: "The Red Flag", "The Star Spangled Banner", "Lilliburlero" - uncredited
Scruggs 1965 writer: "Life Is A Wheel"
Jazz 625 1964 TV Series writer - 1 episode
Search for a Star 1964 TV Series writer: "Beefeaters"
The Servant 1963 music: "All Gone"
All Night Long 1962 writer: "Fall Guy" - uncredited
A Taste of Honey 1961 music: "Let's Slip Away" - uncredited
Concrete Jungle 1960 music: "Prison Ballad Thieving Boy", "Kelly's Back" uncredited
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning 1960 music: "Let's Slip Away" - uncredited
Six-Five Special 1958 performer: "Train Gang", "What Am I Going to Tell Them Tonight?" - as Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra / writer: "Train Gang", "What Am I Going to Tell Them Tonight?"
Radio Cab Murder 1954 performer: "Vertigo", "Microcosmo" - uncredited

Actor

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Five O'Clock Funfair 1965 TV Series
The Servant 1963 Jazz Band Leader (uncredited)

Self

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me 2009 TV Movie documentary Himself
Humphrey Lyttelton: The Jazz Musicians' Jazz Musician 2008 TV Movie documentary Himself (as Sir John Dankworth)
Sunday AM 2006-2008 TV Series Himself
Later... With Jools Holland 2007 TV Series Himself
Legends 2007 TV Series documentary Himself
The Paul O'Grady Show 2007 TV Series Himself
Legends: The Charlie Parker Story 2005 TV Movie documentary Contributor
Victoria Wood: A BAFTA Tribute 2005 TV Movie Himself
Jazz Britannia 2005 TV Series documentary Himself
Cast & Crew 2002 TV Series documentary Himself
Spike Milligan: I Told You I Was Ill... - A Live Tribute 2002 TV Movie Themselves - Musicians (as The John Dankworth Quintet)
Joy to the World 1996 TV Movie Himself
Cleo and John 1982 TV Movie documentary Himself
Secombe with Music 1981 TV Series Himself
The Mike Douglas Show 1974-1979 TV Series Himself - Musician / Himself / Himself - Jazz Musician
The Paul Ryan Show 1977 TV Series Himself
America Salutes the Queen 1977 TV Movie Himself - Orchestra Leader
The Merv Griffin Show 1977 TV Series Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1964-1977 TV Series Himself / Himself - Guest
Heart and Soul 1977 TV Movie Himself
Night of 100 Stars 1977 TV Special Himself
Today 1976 TV Series Himself
Cotton Club '75 1974 TV Movie Himself
Dinah! 1974 TV Series Himself
BBC Show of the Week 1974 TV Series Himself
This Is Your Life 1974 TV Series documentary Himself
The Golden Shot 1971 TV Series Himself
Music on 2 1970 TV Series Himself
Late Show London 1966 TV Series Himself
The Eamonn Andrews Show 1966 TV Series Himself
The New London Palladium Show 1965 TV Series Himself
Jazz 625 1964 TV Series Himself - music performance
Discs a Go-Go 1963 TV Series Themselves
Dan Farson Meets ... 1962 TV Series Himself - Guest
All Night Long 1962 Himself - Alto Sax (as Johnny Dankworth)
The Charlie Chester Music Hall 1962 TV Series Themselves
The Mort Sahl Show 1961 TV Movie Himself - and His Orchestra (as Johnny Dankworth)
Ask Anne 1961 TV Series Himself
The Tin Pan Alley Show 1960 TV Series Himself
Music Shop 1959 TV Series Himself - Performer
Panorama 1959 TV Series documentary Himself
The 1959 Show 1959 TV Movie Himself
Six-Five Special 1957-1958 TV Series Himself - and His Orchestra / Himself - and His Band
Alan Melville Takes You from A-Z 1958 TV Series Himself - and his Orchestra
Monitor 1958 TV Series documentary Himself
The Sunday Break 1958 TV Series Himself - Performer
Record Roundabout 1958 TV Movie Himself - and his Orchestra (as Johnny Dankworth)
Six-Five Special 1958 Himself (as Johnny Dankworth)
Off the Record 1956-1957 TV Series Himself - and his Orchestra
Say It with Music 1957 TV Mini-Series Himself - and His Orchestra
The Centre Show 1953 TV Series Themselves - The Johnny Dankworth Seven

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Breakfast 2011 TV Series Himself - Jazz Musician

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