Dame Cleo Laine and Alec Dankworth arrive for memorial service and celebration
Musicians played into the night as Johnny Dankworth’s funeral became a jamming session.
The jazz star’s memorial service took place at The Stables, the venue he founded 40 years ago, on Monday, after a private service at the crematorium.
Six hundred people then attended a special concert, which was scheduled from 2-4pm. But the event ran on until 8pm as musicians took to the stage to jam.
The concert’s line up included a personal tribute from Rob Argent of The Zombies, a performance from clarinettist Emma Johnson and was compered by Richard Stilgoe.
The Tomorrow’s World theme tune, penned by Sir John, was played by the band including his son, Alec.
His daughter Jacqui sang a song they had written together from an album they were working on.
Chief Executive of The Stables, Monica Ferguson, said: “It was a cross between a wake and a party. I had to reapply my mascara several times as there were lots of tears and lots of laughs. Cleo said at the crematorium John was very keen on the way funerals happen in NewOrleans - you go in sad and come out happy. That’s the way the family wanted it.”
Sir John’s death was announced on Saturday, February 6 by his wife of 52 years, Dame Cleo Laine, at the finale of the venue’s anniversary concert.
Cleo Laine and Sir Johnny Dankworth
The 82-year-old had died just hours earlier but his family insisted the showwould go on.
Hilary Daven Wetton, founder of MK City Orchestra, said: “The Stables isamonument to Sir John.
Without him it would not be here.
He wholly changed Milton Keynes and thanks to him, it has always had an enormously bubbling life.
The word unique is overly used, but in respect to Sir John, it is absolutely correct.”