RIP Cleo Laine (1927 - 2025)

Sad news, over the weekend we learned that British jazz singer and actress Cleo Lain has died. 

Laine guest starred in the second season of The Muppet Show performing "It Don't Mean a Thing" with The Electric Mayhem and "You're Just in love" with the Swedish Chef.

The following year, Rowlf appearing on Cleo's self-titled series spoofing Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke," and was interviewed in the 2002 documentary I Love Muppets.

She acted and sang on stage in the 1950s and throughout her career. Laine is the only vocalist to have received Grammy nominations in the pop, classical, and jazz categories.

Her sole Grammy win came in 1985, when she was awarded best jazz vocal performance, female or her album “Cleo at Carnegie – The 10th Anniversary Concert.”

In 1997, she was made a Dame of the Order of the British Empire. An obituary from the BBC, noted, “One critic said that she was one of Britain’s two great contributions to jazz — the other being gin."

You can read more about her life from Variety

Cleo Laine was 97.