Sir John Dankworth was inspired by the clarinet playing of Benny Goodman to study the instrument seriously at the Royal Academy - after all, Goodman recorded the Mozart concerto and commissioned the Copland one. He formed his first band in 1950 and his famous ‘orchestra’ three years later. As well as performing on clarinet and saxophone, often with his wife, Dame Cleo Laine, he has written film scores including Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, The Servant and Modesty Blaise. His Widespread World was commissioned by Rediffusion Television and used from 1964 to open each day’s broadcasting.

© 2006 Philip Lane