VAN MORRISON - MORRISON LEADS TRIBUTES TO MELLY

MORRISON LEADS TRIBUTES TO MELLY

LATEST: VAN MORRISON has led tributes to English jazz singer and author GEORGE MELLY, who died on Thursday morning (05Jul07). The Liverpool-born performer passed away after suffering from vascular dementia and lung cancer. Morrison says, "George was a dear friend, a uniquely gifted character and a true original. He'll be sadly missed." Jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine adds, "He was a hidden intellectual to most of his admiring fans, being able to converse with great knowledge of the arts in general. "He will be sadly missed for the joy of life and harmless fun he generated in his performances." Melly is survived by his second wife Diana, son Tom, daughter Pandora, step-daughter Candy and four grandchildren.