Teri Thornton

Teri Thornton’s career as a jazz singer was a notably roller-coaster affair, moving from early struggles to success and back to obscurity again, before enjoying a remarkable final flourish in the last two years of her life. Her final comeback was sparked by winning the vocalist section of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1998, an honour usually given to young performers.

Thornton was already in her early 60s when she took the prize. Her dark, slightly husky voice, emotive delivery and ingrained understanding of the music won over the judges, and her award was quickly followed by a major label recording contract with Verve.