Sir John Phillip William Dankworth was an influential English jazz composer, saxophonist, and clarinettist. He was known for his film scores and his work with his wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, as a music educator and director. Born in Walthamstow, Essex, Dankworth grew up in a musical family. He began playing the clarinet at 16 after being inspired by Benny Goodman and later learned the alto saxophone. In 1950, he formed the Dankworth Seven, showcasing young jazz talent. His big band, Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra, gained fame with hits like “Experiments with Mice” and was the first British group invited to the Newport Jazz Festival in 1959.

Dankworth was also a committed activist, refusing to perform in apartheid South Africa. He composed music for popular television shows like The Avengers and was a professor at Gresham College. Dankworth’s legacy includes his contributions to jazz education and his family’s musical talents, including his children, Alec and Jacqui.