Known for her large vocal range and broad repertoire, she managed during a career spanning over 70 years, among other things, to play with greats such as Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.
The primary musical collaboration partner was, however, her husband, the saxophonist John Dankworth, whom she was married to from 1958 until his death in 2010.
A critic, writes BBC, described Laine as one of Britain's two major contributions to jazz – alongside gin.
She was ennobled in 1997 and became "Dame" Cleo Laine.
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