Acker, whose single 'Stranger on the Shore' became No. 1 in the U.S. in the era of modern Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, passed away on Sunday, November 2.
- Nov 3, 2014
AceShowbiz - Acker Bilk, the English clarinettist and vocalist who is best known for his 1961 single "Stranger on the Shore", died on Sunday, November 2 at the age of 85. His personal manager of 45 years, Pamela Sutton, said Acker passed away at around 2:00 P.M. at Bath's Royal United Hospital with his wife Jean by his side.
Pamela said of Acker, "He was vastly important to the jazz movement, he could play the clarinet like nobody else, he had a special tone and vibrato - other musicians would tell you that. His life was music and performing. He only gave it up because his age caught up with him and he couldn't perform any more."
Acker last performed at the Brecon jazz festival in Wales in August 2013. Pamela added, "He was a charming person to be with and he was famous worldwide, especially in Australia. He was a brilliant musician. He had a great sense of humour in every way. He just loved life."
Pamela said many people called since reports of Acker's death emerged. "I am very happy that so many people have called," she shared, "As he was 85, age had just caught up with him. He was in some pain from different things that were going wrong."
According to The Guardian, Acker, who was born Bernard Stanley Bilk on January 28, 1929 in Somerset, England, had previously overcome throat cancer.
English poet Ian McMillan paid tribute to Acker, tweeting, "Goodbye Acker Bilk, creator of one of the great earworms. That shore was strange, but memorable."
Acker is survived by his wife and two children, daughter Jenny and son Pete.
