BBC Strictly Come Dancing icon dies after 'short illness'
ok.co.ukA Strictly Come Dancing legend, Laurence Holloway, has sadly passed away.The former musical director on both Strictly Come Dancing and the talk show Parkinson, died at the age of 86, his family confirmed.The English composer, who began his career as a pianist in dance bands, passed away after a "short illness" on Thursday 9 January, his daughter Abigail Holloway revealed to the PA news agency.
Throughout his illustrious career, the jazz musician collaborated with big names such as Engelbert Humperdinck, Sir Tom Jones, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Mel Torme, Bob Monkhouse, Barry Humphries and Ronnie Corbett, as well as his late wife Marion Montgomery.
American jazz singer Marion, who had lived in England for over three decades, became a household name in the 60s and 70s when she was a resident singer on Sir Michael Parkinson's chat show, where Laurence Holloway later served as a musical director.
She passed away in Bray, Berkshire, aged 67 in 2002. Laurence held the position of musical director for the first three seasons of Strictly Come Dancing, which kicked off in 2004 but was not expected to be a success for the BBC. “Nobody thought it would take off, but people just loved it,” said writer Alison Maloney, who has produced all the BBC Strictly annuals since 2008.
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