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Cleo Laine

Sue Lawley's castaway is jazz singer Cleo Laine.

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is the jazz singer Cleo Laine. Although driven by a great desire to be a performer, and travelling from one audition to another, she confesses to Sue Lawley that when her big break came, it wasn't jazz which attracted her, so much as the leader of the band - John Dankworth. Whether he spotted a cheap singer for the night, or recognised a great talent in the making, it was to be the start of a hugely successful partnership both professionally and personally.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Don't Look Back by Jacqueline Dankworth
Book: The Jazz Revolution by John Dankworth
Luxury: Perfume

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 5 Sep 1997 09:05

Music Played

  • Ella Fitzgerald

    Maybe

    • Ella Sings Gershwin.
    • Brunswick.
  • Eddie Sauter

    A Summer Afternoon

    Soloist: Stan Getz Orchestra: The Beaux Arts String Quartet

    • Focus On Stan Getz.
    • VSP Verve.
  • Alec Dankworth, John Dankworth & The Generation Big Band

    Early June

    • Nebuchadnezzar.
    • Ronnie Scott's Jazz House.
  • Cleo Laine

    Winter

    • Shakespeare And All That Jazz.
    • Fontana.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Jacqueline Dankworth

      Don't Look Back

      • Field Of Blue.
      • Hubba Dots.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Now In the name of God I will begyne (from Noye's Fludde)

    Soloist: Owen Brannigan Orchestra: The English Chamber Orchestra

    • Noyes Fludde.
    • London.
  • John Horler

    Royal Blues

    • Blue Jersey.
    • A.B.C.D.s.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Una voce poco fa (from The Barber of Seville)

    Soloist: Maria Callas Orchestra: The Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra

    • The Barber Of Seville.
    • EMI.
  • Book Choice

    • The Jazz Revolution - John Dankworth

  • Luxury Choice

    • Perfume

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Cleo Laine

Broadcasts

  • Sun 31 Aug 1997 12:15
  • Fri 5 Sep 1997 09:05

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