Jazz Great Dankworth Dead

British jazz legend SIR JOHN DANKWORTH died on Saturday (06Feb10). He was 82.

The saxophonist, who was musical director for greats including Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald, became ill following his tour in October (09) and never recovered. The exact cause of his death has not yet been released.

He started his musical career after landing a place at the Royal Academy of Music in the U.K. aged 17, and was voted the British Musician of the Year in 1949.

He met his wife-to-be, jazz singer Cleo Laine, when auditioning vocalists for his band, the Dankworth Seven, and has a son and daughter with the star. Both children went on to become jazz musicians.

Dankworth was knighted in the 2006 New Year Honours list following 60 years as a mainstay of the British jazz scene.

Singer and pianist Jamie Cullum has paid tribute to the late musician, hailing him a "genius".

Laine announced her husband's death at their theatre in Buckinghamshire, England, which the couple opened 40 years ago.