Stan Tracey

British jazz pianist and composer. Born: 30 December 1926 in Denmark Hill, London, England, UK. Died: 6 December 2013 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, UK (aged 86). Stan Tracey cited Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk as his main influences. Widely regarded as the "Grandfather Of British Jazz", and one of the most prolific performers at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, he performed alongside many of the other American and European greats. Already an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), he was later appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours. He is the father of jazz drummer Clark Tracey.