Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September 1927 – 6 February 201… Read Full Bio ↴Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September 1927 – 6 February 2010), also known as Johnny Dankworth, was an English jazz composer, saxophonist and clarinetist, and writer of film scores. With his wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, he was a music educator and also served as her music director.
Born in Woodford, Essex, he grew up, within a family of musicians, in Highams Park, a suburb of Chingford, and attended Selwyn Boys' (Junior) School in Highams Park and later Sir George Monoux Grammar School in Walthamstow. He had violin and piano lessons before settling eventually on the clarinet at the age of 16, after hearing a record of the Benny Goodman Quartet. Soon afterwards, inspired by Johnny Hodges, he learned to play the alto saxophone.
After studying at London's Royal Academy of Music (where his jazz interests were frowned upon) and then national service in the RAF, during which he played alto sax and clarinet for RAF Music Services, he began a career on the British jazz scene. He attended the Paris Jazz Festival in 1949 and played with Charlie Parker. Parker's comments about Dankworth led to the engagement of the young British jazz musician for a short tour of Sweden with the soprano-saxophonist Sidney Bechet. Dankworth was voted Musician of the Year in 1949.
In 1950, Dankworth formed a small group, the Dankworth Seven, as a vehicle for his writing activities as well as a showcase for several young jazz players, including himself (alto sax), Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet), Eddie Harvey (trombone), Don Rendell (tenor sax), Bill Le Sage (piano), Eric Dawson (bass) and Tony Kinsey (drums). Vocalist and percussionist Frank Holder also sang and recorded with this ensemble. After three successful years, the group was wound up, although it re-formed for several reunions over the years.
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 New York Times critic said of this appearance "Mr. Dankworth's group ... showed the underlying merit that made big bands successful many years ago – the swinging drive, the harmonic colour and the support in depth for soloists that is possible when a disciplined, imaginatively directed band has worked together for a long time. This English group has a flowing, unforced, rhythmic drive that has virtually disappeared from American bands". 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.
In 1959, Dankworth became chair of the Stars Campaign for Inter-Racial Friendship, set up to combat the fascist White Defence League.
In 1961, Dankworth's recording of Galt MacDermot's "African Waltz" reached the UK Singles Chart, peaked at No. 9, and remained in the chart for 21 weeks. American altoist Cannonball Adderley sought and received Dankworth's permission to record the arrangement and had a minor hit in the US as a result. The piece was also covered by many other groups. In 1967 drummer Ronnie Stephenson's part on "African Waltz" was adapted by the Jimi Hendrix Experience's Mitch Mitchell to form the basis of the drum part on "Manic Depression".
Dankworth's friendship with trumpeter Clark Terry led to Terry's being a featured soloist on Dankworth's 1964 album The Zodiac Variations, together with Bob Brookmeyer, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Lucky Thompson and other guests. Other Dankworth recordings during this period featured many other respected jazz names. Some were full-time members of the Dankworth band at one time or another, like Tony Coe, Mike Gibbs, Peter King, Dudley Moore, George Tyndale, Daryl Runswick, John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler, while others such as Dave Holland, John McLaughlin, Tubby Hayes and Dick Morrissey were occasional participants.
Dankworth began a second career as a composer of film and television scores (often credited as "Johnny Dankworth"). Among his best-known credits are the original themes for two British TV programmes, The Avengers (used from 1961 to 1964) and Tomorrow's World. He also wrote the scores for the films Darling (1965) and Modesty Blaise and Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment (both 1966).[9] He appeared in the film All Night Long (1962) alongside Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus – playing himself - and played on the theme to the satirical BBC show The Frost Report in 1966.
Dankworth was commissioned to write a piece for the 1967 Farnham Festival; and produced "Tom Sawyer's Saturday"; written for full orchestra and narrator: "a sort of 'Peter and the Wolf' which could be played by most reasonably competent youth orchestras".
During this active period of recording, the Dankworth band nevertheless found time for frequent live appearances and radio shows, including tours in Britain and Europe with Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan and Gerry Mulligan, and concerts and radio performances with Lionel Hampton and Ella Fitzgerald.
Dankworth's friendship with Duke Ellington continued until the latter's death in 1974. He recorded an album of symphonic arrangements of many Ellington tunes featuring another Ellingtonian trumpet soloist Barry Lee Hall. Dankworth also retained his Ellington links by performing with the Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Duke's son, Mercer Ellington. Dankworth recorded various symphonic albums with Dizzy Gillespie and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and others. Other jazz musicians with whom Dankworth performed include George Shearing, Toots Thielemans, Benny Goodman, Herbie Hancock, Hank Jones, Tadd Dameron, Slam Stewart and Oscar Peterson.
He always had an enthusiasm for jazz education, for many years running the Allmusic summer schools at the Stables in Wavendon near Milton Keynes, a theatre that Cleo and he created (January 1970) in their back garden. From 1984 to 1986, Dankworth was professor of music at Gresham College, London, giving free public lectures.
He appeared with Craig David on Later with Jools Holland on BBC Two. He set up his own record label, Qnotes, in 2003, to reissue some of his old recordings as well as new ones. They include a number with Julian Lloyd Webber, Dudley Moore and members of his family.
Dankworth and Laine's two children are both jazz musicians: Alec Dankworth is a bassist who is also a member of his father's band, and Jacqui Dankworth is a singer.
Dankworth was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2006 New Year's Honours List. He and Dame Cleo Laine were one of the few married couples where both partners held titles in their own right.
Sir John remained an active composer into later life, and he wrote a jazz violin concerto for soloist Christian Garrick to play. This work had its world premiere at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall on 3 March 2008 in partnership with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra. Sir John himself took to the stage and challenged the young players to improvise with him.
In October 2009 at the end of a US tour with his wife, Sir John was taken ill. The couple cancelled a number of UK concert dates for the following month. Dankworth did return to the concert stage for just one solo at the London Jazz Festival at the Royal Festival Hall, London, in December 2009. He played his sax from a wheelchair. He also played in John & Cleo's Christmas Show from 17 to 20 December 2009 at 'the Stables' in Wavendon. He died on 6 February 2010, aged 82, on the afternoon before a show celebrating the 40th anniversary of the foundation of his Stables theatre.
His funeral took place on 1 March 2010 at Milton Keynes Crematorium, followed by a memorial service held at the Stables the same day.
Selected discography
The Vintage Years (1953–1959, Sepia Records, Decca)
The Roulette Years 1961, with Danny Moss, Peter King (Roulette Records)
What The Dickens! 1963, with Ronnie Ross, Tubby Hayes, Peter King, Bobby Wellins (Fontana) & reissued on (Dutton Vocalion)
Zodiac Variations 1964 with Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Phil Woods, Zoot Sims, Lucky Thompson, Ronnie Scott, Danny Moss, Ronnie Ross, David Snell (Fontana) & reissued on (Dutton Vocalion)
The Million Dollar Collection 1967, with Kenny Wheeler, Henry Lowther, Mike Gibbs, Chris Pyne Tony Roberts(Fontana) & reissued on (Dutton Vocalion)
Windmill Tilter (composed by Kenny Wheeler) 1969, with Kenny Wheeler, John McLaughlin, Dave Holland, Tony Roberts (Fontana) & reissued on BGO Records
Lifeline 1973, with Henry Lowther, Stan Sulzmann, Daryl Runswick (Philips) & reissued on (Dutton Vocalion)
Moon Valley 1998, with John Horler, Malcolm Greese, Allan Ganley Audio-B, ABCD 7
JD5 2002/2003, (Qnote QNT 10101)
Movies 'n' Me 1974, J. Dankworth and His Orchestra, DRG Records 507
...Orchestra (featuring Cleo Laine), 1953–1958, EMI Records 2601871
London to Newport 1959, Top Rank Records 30/019
Gone Hitchin 1983, Sepia RSR 2012
Nebuchadnezzar 1993, The Alec and John Dankworth Generation Big Band, Carlsberg 029
About 42 Years Later, Avid Jazz, (2007) – with Danny Moss
The Best of Johnny Dankworth, EMI, (2008)
Three Early LP's & More (Shes The Tops/Journey into Jazz/5 Steps To Dankworth), Avid Jazz, (2008)
Let's Slip Away: Film and TV 1960–1973, Commercial Marketing, (2009)
Movies 'n' Me, Vocalion, (2010)
Too Cool For The Blues, Rex, (2010)
Britains Ambassador Of Jazz, Harkit Records, (2010)
Born in Woodford, Essex, he grew up, within a family of musicians, in Highams Park, a suburb of Chingford, and attended Selwyn Boys' (Junior) School in Highams Park and later Sir George Monoux Grammar School in Walthamstow. He had violin and piano lessons before settling eventually on the clarinet at the age of 16, after hearing a record of the Benny Goodman Quartet. Soon afterwards, inspired by Johnny Hodges, he learned to play the alto saxophone.
After studying at London's Royal Academy of Music (where his jazz interests were frowned upon) and then national service in the RAF, during which he played alto sax and clarinet for RAF Music Services, he began a career on the British jazz scene. He attended the Paris Jazz Festival in 1949 and played with Charlie Parker. Parker's comments about Dankworth led to the engagement of the young British jazz musician for a short tour of Sweden with the soprano-saxophonist Sidney Bechet. Dankworth was voted Musician of the Year in 1949.
In 1950, Dankworth formed a small group, the Dankworth Seven, as a vehicle for his writing activities as well as a showcase for several young jazz players, including himself (alto sax), Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet), Eddie Harvey (trombone), Don Rendell (tenor sax), Bill Le Sage (piano), Eric Dawson (bass) and Tony Kinsey (drums). Vocalist and percussionist Frank Holder also sang and recorded with this ensemble. After three successful years, the group was wound up, although it re-formed for several reunions over the years.
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 New York Times critic said of this appearance "Mr. Dankworth's group ... showed the underlying merit that made big bands successful many years ago – the swinging drive, the harmonic colour and the support in depth for soloists that is possible when a disciplined, imaginatively directed band has worked together for a long time. This English group has a flowing, unforced, rhythmic drive that has virtually disappeared from American bands". 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.
In 1959, Dankworth became chair of the Stars Campaign for Inter-Racial Friendship, set up to combat the fascist White Defence League.
In 1961, Dankworth's recording of Galt MacDermot's "African Waltz" reached the UK Singles Chart, peaked at No. 9, and remained in the chart for 21 weeks. American altoist Cannonball Adderley sought and received Dankworth's permission to record the arrangement and had a minor hit in the US as a result. The piece was also covered by many other groups. In 1967 drummer Ronnie Stephenson's part on "African Waltz" was adapted by the Jimi Hendrix Experience's Mitch Mitchell to form the basis of the drum part on "Manic Depression".
Dankworth's friendship with trumpeter Clark Terry led to Terry's being a featured soloist on Dankworth's 1964 album The Zodiac Variations, together with Bob Brookmeyer, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Lucky Thompson and other guests. Other Dankworth recordings during this period featured many other respected jazz names. Some were full-time members of the Dankworth band at one time or another, like Tony Coe, Mike Gibbs, Peter King, Dudley Moore, George Tyndale, Daryl Runswick, John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler, while others such as Dave Holland, John McLaughlin, Tubby Hayes and Dick Morrissey were occasional participants.
Dankworth began a second career as a composer of film and television scores (often credited as "Johnny Dankworth"). Among his best-known credits are the original themes for two British TV programmes, The Avengers (used from 1961 to 1964) and Tomorrow's World. He also wrote the scores for the films Darling (1965) and Modesty Blaise and Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment (both 1966).[9] He appeared in the film All Night Long (1962) alongside Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus – playing himself - and played on the theme to the satirical BBC show The Frost Report in 1966.
Dankworth was commissioned to write a piece for the 1967 Farnham Festival; and produced "Tom Sawyer's Saturday"; written for full orchestra and narrator: "a sort of 'Peter and the Wolf' which could be played by most reasonably competent youth orchestras".
During this active period of recording, the Dankworth band nevertheless found time for frequent live appearances and radio shows, including tours in Britain and Europe with Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan and Gerry Mulligan, and concerts and radio performances with Lionel Hampton and Ella Fitzgerald.
Dankworth's friendship with Duke Ellington continued until the latter's death in 1974. He recorded an album of symphonic arrangements of many Ellington tunes featuring another Ellingtonian trumpet soloist Barry Lee Hall. Dankworth also retained his Ellington links by performing with the Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Duke's son, Mercer Ellington. Dankworth recorded various symphonic albums with Dizzy Gillespie and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and others. Other jazz musicians with whom Dankworth performed include George Shearing, Toots Thielemans, Benny Goodman, Herbie Hancock, Hank Jones, Tadd Dameron, Slam Stewart and Oscar Peterson.
He always had an enthusiasm for jazz education, for many years running the Allmusic summer schools at the Stables in Wavendon near Milton Keynes, a theatre that Cleo and he created (January 1970) in their back garden. From 1984 to 1986, Dankworth was professor of music at Gresham College, London, giving free public lectures.
He appeared with Craig David on Later with Jools Holland on BBC Two. He set up his own record label, Qnotes, in 2003, to reissue some of his old recordings as well as new ones. They include a number with Julian Lloyd Webber, Dudley Moore and members of his family.
Dankworth and Laine's two children are both jazz musicians: Alec Dankworth is a bassist who is also a member of his father's band, and Jacqui Dankworth is a singer.
Dankworth was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2006 New Year's Honours List. He and Dame Cleo Laine were one of the few married couples where both partners held titles in their own right.
Sir John remained an active composer into later life, and he wrote a jazz violin concerto for soloist Christian Garrick to play. This work had its world premiere at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall on 3 March 2008 in partnership with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra. Sir John himself took to the stage and challenged the young players to improvise with him.
In October 2009 at the end of a US tour with his wife, Sir John was taken ill. The couple cancelled a number of UK concert dates for the following month. Dankworth did return to the concert stage for just one solo at the London Jazz Festival at the Royal Festival Hall, London, in December 2009. He played his sax from a wheelchair. He also played in John & Cleo's Christmas Show from 17 to 20 December 2009 at 'the Stables' in Wavendon. He died on 6 February 2010, aged 82, on the afternoon before a show celebrating the 40th anniversary of the foundation of his Stables theatre.
His funeral took place on 1 March 2010 at Milton Keynes Crematorium, followed by a memorial service held at the Stables the same day.
Selected discography
The Vintage Years (1953–1959, Sepia Records, Decca)
The Roulette Years 1961, with Danny Moss, Peter King (Roulette Records)
What The Dickens! 1963, with Ronnie Ross, Tubby Hayes, Peter King, Bobby Wellins (Fontana) & reissued on (Dutton Vocalion)
Zodiac Variations 1964 with Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Phil Woods, Zoot Sims, Lucky Thompson, Ronnie Scott, Danny Moss, Ronnie Ross, David Snell (Fontana) & reissued on (Dutton Vocalion)
The Million Dollar Collection 1967, with Kenny Wheeler, Henry Lowther, Mike Gibbs, Chris Pyne Tony Roberts(Fontana) & reissued on (Dutton Vocalion)
Windmill Tilter (composed by Kenny Wheeler) 1969, with Kenny Wheeler, John McLaughlin, Dave Holland, Tony Roberts (Fontana) & reissued on BGO Records
Lifeline 1973, with Henry Lowther, Stan Sulzmann, Daryl Runswick (Philips) & reissued on (Dutton Vocalion)
Moon Valley 1998, with John Horler, Malcolm Greese, Allan Ganley Audio-B, ABCD 7
JD5 2002/2003, (Qnote QNT 10101)
Movies 'n' Me 1974, J. Dankworth and His Orchestra, DRG Records 507
...Orchestra (featuring Cleo Laine), 1953–1958, EMI Records 2601871
London to Newport 1959, Top Rank Records 30/019
Gone Hitchin 1983, Sepia RSR 2012
Nebuchadnezzar 1993, The Alec and John Dankworth Generation Big Band, Carlsberg 029
About 42 Years Later, Avid Jazz, (2007) – with Danny Moss
The Best of Johnny Dankworth, EMI, (2008)
Three Early LP's & More (Shes The Tops/Journey into Jazz/5 Steps To Dankworth), Avid Jazz, (2008)
Let's Slip Away: Film and TV 1960–1973, Commercial Marketing, (2009)
Movies 'n' Me, Vocalion, (2010)
Too Cool For The Blues, Rex, (2010)
Britains Ambassador Of Jazz, Harkit Records, (2010)
Experiments With Mice
Johnny Dankworth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Spoken)
This is the saga of three blind mice
Who lived in a recording studio
They called the first one, Billy May
The second, they called Benny Goodman
And the third used to live in a mill
So they called him Miller
He was a romantic little mouse
They all ran off to the farmer's son
Who sent them stone deaf
With a tuneable drum
There were a couple of
Irish cats around too
One was named Mulligan
This is the saga of three blind mice
Who lived in a recording studio
They called the first one, Billy May
The second, they called Benny Goodman
So they called him Miller
He was a romantic little mouse
They all ran off to the farmer's son
Who sent them stone deaf
With a tuneable drum
There were a couple of
Irish cats around too
One was named Mulligan
The lyrics of Johnny Dankworth's "Experiments With Mice" is a spoken word piece that tells the story of three blind mice who lived in a recording studio. Each of the mice has a name that is inspired by famous musicians. The first mouse is named Billy May, the second mouse is Benny Goodman, and the third one was originally from a mill so was named Miller. Miller is described in the lyrics as a romantic little mouse.
The mice ran into trouble when they went to the farmer's son and ended up getting sent "stone deaf with a tunable drum." There were also two Irish cats in the story named Mulligan. The lyrics don't go into detail about what happened to the mice after this incident, leaving the story open-ended.
The lyrics of "Experiments With Mice" are open to interpretation, but some people believe that it's a commentary on the music industry and how artists can be used and manipulated for financial gain. It's also possible that the lyrics are just a whimsical story that doesn't have a deeper meaning. Whatever the case may be, this song is a unique addition to Johnny Dankworth's body of work.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the saga of three blind mice
This is the story of three mice who cannot see
Who lived in a recording studio
The mice lived in a place where sound is recorded
They called the first one, Billy May
One mouse was named Billy May
The second, they called Benny Goodman
Another mouse was named Benny Goodman
And the third used to live in a mill
The third mouse lived in a mill
So they called him Miller
They named him Miller because he lived in a mill
He was a romantic little mouse
Miller was a small mouse who had a romantic nature
They all ran off to the farmer's son
The mice went to the farmer's son
Who sent them stone deaf
The farmer's son made the mice unable to hear
With a tuneable drum
The drum that made them stone deaf could be adjusted
There were a couple of Irish cats around too
There were also two Irish cats nearby
One was named Mulligan
One of the Irish cats was named Mulligan
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANKWORTH, JOHN PHILIP WILLIAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@fionatsang9353
This never gets old! I still crack up laughing when he gets to the mouse who 'lived in a mill so they called him Miller, he was a romantic little mouse' (plays Three Blind Mice in the style of Moonlight Serenade) XD
@pianopappy
Still have my copy of this 45 that I bought in 1956. Thanks for posting. "The "Gerry Mulligan "portion was based on his version of "Bernie's Tune". The "Sauter-Finegan" portion was based on their version of "Doodletown Fifers". The "Stan Kenton" portion was based on Kenton's version of "The Peanut Vendor". Never did figure out who's band the "Tunable-Drum" bit was imitating. Because the sax section sounded a lot like Les Elgart's band, I thought it might be his. Alas, YouTuber Richard Gray provided the answer below--ending a six-decade personal mystery.
@richardgray6471
Eric Delaney ?
@pianopappy
@Richard Gray Thanks, Richard. I'm sorry to say that, having lived my whole life on the other side of the pond, I am not familiar with London's Delaney. However, I think this entry in Wikipedia strongly suggests that he's the chap to whom Johnny is paying tribute : "Classically trained as a tympanist, his unique approach went far beyond the scope of orchestral accompaniment, turning the 'timps' into a lead / solo instrument."
@richardgray6471
@pianopappy Morning Mr Pappy(or may I call you Piano ?) Extraordinary that this disc charted in the UK,it was up against Heartbreak Hotel amongst other things!Dankworth and Delaney were rival bandleaders in those days,Delaney led his band on the early rock'n'roll BBC TV programme 6.5 Special.
@pianopappy
@Richard Gray No need to be so formal, Richard--"piano" is fine. When I signed up with YouTube, I thought it would be safest to use an alias. However, you can find my name in this personal posting of my own piano-playing of a tune written by another Englishman: https://youtu.be/_KLegpxEe-w
Thanks again for solving a six-decade personal mystery! Buy the way, my favorite jazz recording made across the pond back in the day was Ted Heath's version of "Love for Sale", featuring Frank Horrox on piano:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dWOIL20xsU
@richardgray6471
@pianopappy Enjoyed your playing,Don,were you a professional musician? Also,I'm impressed with your knowledge of British jazz,I'm not sure many Americans are/were into it.I visited Atlanta a couple of times in the 2000's,my wife's niece worked for C*c* C*l* for a while.
@rhand
Produced by George Martin