Maxine Daniels (2 November 1930 – 20 October 2003) was an English jazz singer who achieved notability in the post-war era.

Early life

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Daniels was born Gladys Lynch in Stepney, London, an elder sister of singer and entertainer, Kenny Lynch.[1][2] She was one of thirteen children.

Career

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Her first recognition as a singer came from winning a local talent contest, at the age of 14, in a Stepney cinema.[3] Local recognition led to a first singing job with a semi-professional band led by a Canning Town grocer,[4] until another talent competition organised by the Daily Sketch[5] and sponsored by bandleader Ted Heath.[4] A long residency (1954–56)[5] with bandleader Denny Boyce followed at The Orchid Room in Purley.[2] At Boyce's suggestion, she changed her stage name: through their regular Radio Luxembourg broadcasts, she gained a wider audience, and the opportunity to record for the Oriole label.[5]

Personal life

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She married Charlie Daniels in 1950, and had they had a daughter, Hazel Annette. Charlie died in 1988.[1] In the late 1950s, Maxine shared a mutual attraction with actor Sean Connery, whom she met while performing at a theatre. Connery purportedly made a pass at her, but was informed she was already happily married with a daughter.[6] Maxine Daniels died in Romford in 2003, aged 72. She was survived by her daughter and two grandsons.[1]

Discography

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  • Coffee Bar Calypso (Oriole, 1957) [7]
  • A Foggy Day (Oriole, 1957)[7]
  • I Never Realised (Oriole, 1958)[7]
  • Somebody Else Is Taking My Place (Oriole, 1958) with Denny Boyce & His Orchestra[7]
  • When It's Springtime in the Rockies (Oriole, 1958) with Denny Boyce & His Orchestra[7]
  • Passionate Summer (Oriole, 1958)[7]
  • Pete Corrigan and His Band of Hope (CBH, 1984) featuring Maxine Daniels[8]
  • The Magic of Maxine Daniels... Every Night About This Time (Calligraph, 1986)[8]
  • A Pocketful of Dreams (Calligraph, 1987)[8]
  • From the Heart (Calligraph, 1993)
  • The Memory of Tonight (Calligraph, 1996)[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Obituary, Thedeadrockstarsclub.com; accessed 5 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Carr, Ian; Fairweather, Digby; Priestley, Brian (1995). Jazz: the rough guide (1 ed.). London, UK: Rough Guides. p. 152. ISBN 1-85828-137-7.
  3. ^ 'Encyclopedia of Popular Music' in Oxford Reference
  4. ^ a b Wilmer, Val (30 October 2003). "Maxine Daniels obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - Maxine Daniels, singer by Val Wilmer
  6. ^ Yule, Andrew (1992). Sean Connery: Neither Shaken Nor Stirred. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7515-4097-0.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Maxine Daniels - Discography on 45cat.com
  8. ^ a b c Maxine Daniels - Discography on Discogs
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