Cleo Laine, whose husky contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz and who was regarded by many as Britain’s greatest contribution to the quintessentially American music, has died.

Cleo Laine, who was married to and performed with fellow jazz musician John Dankworth, has died, according to the U.K. music venue they'd founded.

A Briton with a smoky voice, she recorded albums across six decades, toured the world and acted in “Edwin Drood.”