George Melly - R.I.P.

[Lois Gilbert]

Jazz singer George Melly dies
The all round performer passes away aged 80

Jazz singer George Melly died at his London home, it has been announced today (July 5).

The singer, aged 80, had been suffering from lung cancer and vascular dementia, a condition which affects the brain after small strokes, according to his wife Diana.

As well as his jazz activities, Melly who was in the navy was also a historian, a film and television critic and wrote the words for a newspaper cartoon strip.

As a singer, he was influential in the British Jazz scene, well-known for performing traditional blues songs.

Born in Liverpool in 1926, he initially began his music career touring in Mick Mulligan's Band and later after a brief break from singing hit the road again in the 1970s with John Chilton's Feetwarmers.

His vocal delivery and performance style is said to have influenced the likes of Mick Jagger, while Van Morrison paid tribute to him today calling him a "dear friend, a uniquely gifted character and a true original who'll be sadly missed", reports BBC News.

Melly's final gig took place at London's 100 Club on June 10, in aid of Admiral Nurses, part of charity For Dementia.

[Alastair]

He had several lifetimes in one. Saw him drinking in his local pub (near my office) a few years ago, flamboyant as ever. Couldn't stand his music, but admired him as a writer and all-round man of art. RIP.