Jacqui Dankworth


Jacqueline Caryl Dankworth is a British jazz singer. She is the daughter of jazz singer Cleo Laine and musician John Dankworth.

Career

Dankworth was born in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. She attended St. Christopher School in Hertfordshire and is an alumna and fellow of Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She worked as an actress with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and in West End theatre. She played Cinderella in the musical Into the Woods and appeared the film Shoreditch, singing the song "My Man" by Billie Holiday.
In 2003, Dankworth released her first album, As the Sun Shines Down on Me on Candid Records. This album brought her to the attention of Michael Parkinson and BBC Radio 2, and she appeared regularly on air throughout that year. She featured on Courtney Pine's album Devotion, and performed with Pine at the Royal Festival Hall as part of the London Jazz Festival. Dankworth followed the success of As the Sun Shines Down on Me with the 2004 release, Detour Ahead. Her third album, Back to You was released in 2009.
She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to music.
Dankworth is married to Charlie Wood, a blues keyboardist and vocalist from Memphis, Tennessee.

Discography