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Acting

Acker Bilk

Born
Jan 28, 1929 · Aged 85
Died
Nov 2, 2014
Place of birth
Pensford, Somerset, England, UK
Gender
Male
Movie credits
7
TV credits
8
Also known as (2)
  • Bernard Stanley Bilk
  • Acker Bilk and His Paramount Jazz Band

Biography

Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk, MBE (28 January 1929 – 2 November 2014) was a British clarinetist and vocalist known for his breathy, vibrato-rich, lower-register style, and distinctive appearance – of goatee, bowler hat and striped waistcoat. Bilk's 1962 instrumental tune "Stranger on the Shore" became the UK's biggest selling single of 1962. It spent more than 50 weeks on the UK charts, peaking at number two, and was the second No. 1 single in the United States by a British artist. Bilk was born in Pensford, Somerset, in 1929. He earned the nickname "Acker" from the Somerset slang for…