Johnny Dankworth, a world-renowned saxophonist, has passed away at the age of 82.
Master saxophonist Sir John Dankworth has died aged 82 after a long illness.
The musician was best known for starting his own jazz orchestra and composing the theme tunes for TV shows The Avengers, Tomorrow’s World and films including Modesty Blaise, The Servant and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.
After winning a place at the Royal Academy of Music aged 17, Sir John was voted British Musician of the Year in 1949.
Stephen Clarke, chairman of The Stables – a theatre Sir John and his wife set up – said: “It is a fitting tribute that on the day of Sir John’s death we celebrated on stage the 40th anniversary of The Stables with some of the many artists who have performed with Sir John.”
In 2008 John Dankworth and his wife Cleo Laine won the Gold Award at the BBC Jazz Awards.