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| Jazz performer George Melly dies | Jazz performer George Melly dies |
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| Jazz singer and author George Melly has died at his London home at the age of 80, his wife Diana has announced. | Jazz singer and author George Melly has died at his London home at the age of 80, his wife Diana has announced. |
| The flamboyant performer had been diagnosed with lung cancer and vascular dementia, a condition which affects the brain after small strokes. | The flamboyant performer had been diagnosed with lung cancer and vascular dementia, a condition which affects the brain after small strokes. |
| Despite his illness, the jazz veteran was still appearing on stage in the weeks leading up to his death. | Despite his illness, the jazz veteran was still appearing on stage in the weeks leading up to his death. |
| In January, the Liverpool-born musician was taken to hospital after collapsing on stage in East Sussex. | In January, the Liverpool-born musician was taken to hospital after collapsing on stage in East Sussex. |
| He brought us a lot of fun and a lot of pleasure Roy Hudd His final concert took place at the 100 Club in London on 10 June in aid of Admiral Nurses, part of the charity For Dementia. | He brought us a lot of fun and a lot of pleasure Roy Hudd His final concert took place at the 100 Club in London on 10 June in aid of Admiral Nurses, part of the charity For Dementia. |
| According to his wife, Melly was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005 for which he refused all treatment. | According to his wife, Melly was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005 for which he refused all treatment. |
| Melly, who began his career in the Navy, was also a lecturer on art history as well as a film and television critic. | Melly, who began his career in the Navy, was also a lecturer on art history as well as a film and television critic. |
| He also wrote the words for the Flook cartoon strips in the Daily Mail, drawn by his friend Wally Fawkes. | |
| Melly combined his jazz career with writing and broadcastingFriend and contemporary Roy Hudd described him as "the perfect Victorian man - he could do everything". | |
| "He brought us a lot of fun and a lot of pleasure," he told BBC News 24. | |
| "It was rather a tight-arsed thing, this revival of trad jazz, but George brought huge fun to it." | |
| The son of a wool broker and an actress, Melly was born in Liverpool in 1926 and educated at Stowe. | The son of a wool broker and an actress, Melly was born in Liverpool in 1926 and educated at Stowe. |
| He joined the Navy at the end of World War II before joining jazz trumpeter Mick Mulligan's band, travelling the length and breadth of Britain. | He joined the Navy at the end of World War II before joining jazz trumpeter Mick Mulligan's band, travelling the length and breadth of Britain. |
| "They were terrific times we had. Hard drinking and squalid digs but absolutely no regrets," Melly recalled. | "They were terrific times we had. Hard drinking and squalid digs but absolutely no regrets," Melly recalled. |
| After quitting music in 1962 to concentrate on writing, he resumed his jazz career in the 1970s and went back on the road with John Chilton's Feetwarmers. | After quitting music in 1962 to concentrate on writing, he resumed his jazz career in the 1970s and went back on the road with John Chilton's Feetwarmers. |
| Away from show business, his main recreation was fly fishing - a passion he indulged at the mile-long stretch of the River Usk he owned beside his holiday home in Wales. | Away from show business, his main recreation was fly fishing - a passion he indulged at the mile-long stretch of the River Usk he owned beside his holiday home in Wales. |
| He was renowned for his zoot suits, jaunty fedoras and outrageous tiesThe jazzman continued to perform despite collapsing on stage in January during a concert with his band, Digby Fairweather's Half Dozen. | |
| "I don't fear death," he said recently. "I'm a fatalist, although I would rather death came as a shock to me. | |
| "I've always said I wanted to die either coming off stage with the applause in my ears or of a terminal stroke on a river bank with two trout by my side." | "I've always said I wanted to die either coming off stage with the applause in my ears or of a terminal stroke on a river bank with two trout by my side." |
| Melly is survived by his wife, his son Tom, his daughter Pandora, his stepdaughter Candy and his four grandchildren. | Melly is survived by his wife, his son Tom, his daughter Pandora, his stepdaughter Candy and his four grandchildren. |