Acker Bilk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Acker Bilk MBE
Background information
Birth name	Bernard Stanley Bilk
Born	(1929-01-28)28 January 1929 Pensford, Somerset, England
Died	2 November 2014(2014-11-02) (aged 85) Bath, Somerset, England
Genres	Trad jazz, Easy listening
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Clarinet
Years active	1954–2013
Labels	Atco, EMI, Columbia, Castle, Philips, Stomp Off, GNP, Lake

Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk, MBE (born January 28, 1929 – died November 2, 2014) was a famous British clarinet player and singer. He was known for his special way of playing the clarinet, with a deep, shaky sound. He also had a unique look: a small beard (goatee), a bowler hat, and a striped vest.

Bilk's 1962 instrumental song "Stranger on the Shore" became the biggest-selling single in the UK that year. It stayed on the UK music charts for over 50 weeks. This song also became the second number one hit in the United States by a British artist.

Acker Bilk's Early Life

Acker Bilk was born in Pensford, Somerset, England, in 1929. He got the nickname "Acker" because it meant "friend" or "mate" in the local Somerset language. His parents tried to teach him piano, but he preferred playing outside. He loved activities like football.

As a boy, Bilk had a few accidents that affected his clarinet playing later on. He lost two front teeth in a school fight. He also lost half a finger in a sledging accident.

After school, Bilk worked at a cigarette factory for three years. Then, he joined the Royal Engineers for three years of National Service. This was in the Suez Canal Zone. He learned to play the clarinet there. A friend gave him a clarinet he bought at a market. Bilk later borrowed a better instrument from the army and kept it after his service. After his army time, Bilk worked as a blacksmith with his uncle.

Acker Bilk's Music Career

Bilk started playing jazz with friends in Bristol. In 1951, he moved to London to play with Ken Colyer's band. But Bilk didn't like London much. So, he went back home and started his own band in Pensford. It was called the Chew Valley Jazzmen. Later, they changed their name to the Bristol Paramount Jazz Band.

The band then got a job playing in a beer bar in Düsseldorf, Germany. They played seven hours a night, seven nights a week, for six weeks! During this time, Bilk and his band created their special style and look. They wore striped vests and bowler hats.

After returning from Germany, Bilk's band played in London jazz clubs. He became very popular during the "trad jazz" boom in the UK in the late 1950s. In 1960, their song "Summer Set" became a top five hit in the UK Singles Chart. This started a streak of 11 hit songs for him. In 1961, "Acker Bilk and His Paramount Jazz Band" performed at the Royal Variety Performance.

Becoming an International Star

Acker Bilk became famous worldwide in 1962. He tried something new by adding string instruments to one of his albums. He also included a song he wrote himself. He had named the song "Jenny" after his daughter. But he was asked to change the title to "Stranger on the Shore" for a British TV show.

He recorded "Stranger on the Shore" with his deep clarinet sound. It was backed by the Leon Young String Chorale. The song was a huge hit in the United Kingdom. It stayed on the charts for 55 weeks! It also topped the American charts. This made Bilk the second British artist to have a number one song in the US. "Stranger on the Shore" sold over one million copies. It earned a gold disc.

At the peak of his fame, Bilk appeared in two movies in 1962. One was a musical called It's Trad, Dad!. The other was a comedy called Band of Thieves, where he and his band played musicians in prison. His music was also used in other films.

Later Career and Achievements

Bilk's success slowed down when British rock and roll became popular in 1964. He started performing in cabaret shows. However, he still made some great albums in the mid-1960s. Some of these were successful in the United States.

In 1976, Bilk had another hit song called "Aria," which reached number five in the UK. In 1977, he and his band performed at the Eurovision Song Contest. His last song to appear on the charts was in 1978.

In the early 1980s, "Stranger on the Shore" became popular again. It was used in the movie Sweet Dreams, about country singer Patsy Cline. "Aria" was also a main song in a 2012 Polish film.

Bilk continued to tour with his Paramount Jazz Band. He also performed concerts with his friends, Chris Barber and Kenny Ball. They were known as "The 3Bs." Bilk also sang on many of his songs.

He received an award called MBE in 2001. In 2005, he won the "Gold Award" from the BBC Jazz Awards. He also recorded music with other famous musicians like Van Morrison. In 2012, Bilk joked that he was "fed up" with playing "Stranger on the Shore" after 50 years.

Acker Bilk passed away in Bath, Somerset, on November 2, 2014. He was 85 years old. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Acker Bilk's Personal Life

Acker Bilk married his childhood sweetheart, Jean Hawkins, in 1954. They met in the same class at school. They had two children, Jenny and Pete. After living near London for many years, they moved back to Pensford.

In 1997, Bilk faced some health challenges. He had surgery and radiation therapy. Later, he had more operations and a minor stroke. Despite these issues, he continued to perform.

Other Interests

Acker Bilk was also interested in speedway racing. In 1972, he was part of a group that took over the Oxford Cheetahs speedway team. They renamed the team the Oxford Rebels.

Acker Bilk's Legacy

Acker Bilk has been called the "Great Master of the Clarinet." His song "Stranger on the Shore" is still a classic in jazz and popular music. He once called it "my old-age pension" because it brought him so much success.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

See Also

In Spanish: Acker Bilk para niños

• West Country dialects
• Django Reinhardt, another influential jazz musician with finger-damage who was still able to become a virtuoso on his instrument