News : Mick Jagger “so sad” to learn of death of singer and actress Cleo Sylvestre

The Rolling Stones‘ frontman Mick Jagger is among a host of artists who have paid tribute to singer and actress Cleo Sylvestre who has died aged 79.

Sylvestre passed away on Friday (September 20) according to her agents, Fulcrum Talent. No cause of death has yet been released

They said in a statement (via The Metro): “It is with deep regret that I have to announce the sad news that Cleo Sylvestre MBE died this morning. Much loved and admired by her peers, she will be remembered as a trailblazer and a true friend. She will be sorely missed by so many.”

Sylvestre had a brief singing career, releasing a version of ‘To Know Him Is To Love Him’ in 1964, which featured The Rolling Stones as her backing singers after she met the band at a blues night in Soho. She later worked as a musician with her blues band Honey B Mama And Friends.

Paying tribute to the singer on his Instagram Stories with a black-and white photograph of her with the band, Jagger said: “So sad to hear of the passing of my old friend, the actress and singer Cleo Sylvestre, the first female vocalist to sing with the Stones.”

Playwright and author Bonnie Greer, also paid her respects.

She wrote: “She was one of the reasons that-from my vantage point in NYC (New York City) that I thought that this country has the best anglophone theatre, and the best place to be a Black woman in it. I still think that. Thank you, Cleo!”

Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, the UK’s first sickle cell nurse specialist, also said that she was “devastated” at the death of her “wonderful, kind friend”.

Born in April 1945, Sylvestre grew up and was educated in Camden, before she pursued a career in acting and made her West End debut at Wyndham’s Theatre in 1967’s Wise Child, written by Simon Gray.

She appeared in a host of TV series including Till Death Do Us Part, Doctors, Coronation Street, The Bill, New Tricks and Doctor Who, as well as a regular role in school drama Grange Hill.

Sylvestre was more recently honoured with an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity.

You can view further tributes below: