Strictly Star Laurence Holloway Dies After Short Illness at 86
Laurence Holloway, renowned musical director, has passed away after a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy of musical collaborations and fond memories
Entertainment
Laurence Holloway, Strictly Come Dancing, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Judy Garland, UK
Bray: It’s a sad day for the music world. Laurence Holloway, the talented musical director from Strictly Come Dancing, has passed away at the age of 86. His family shared that he died after a short illness, which is just heartbreaking.
Holloway had quite the career, working with big names like Engelbert Humperdinck and Sir Tom Jones. He was a jazz musician who really made his mark, especially as a pianist in dance bands. His daughter, Abigail, confirmed the news, and you can just feel the loss.
He was also known for his work on the Parkinson show, where he was the musical director. His late wife, Marion Montgomery, was a famous jazz singer too. They were quite the duo in the music scene.
Holloway was a big part of Strictly Come Dancing from the start in 2004. He even received an MBE for his contributions to music in 2013. Can you imagine playing piano for the Queen? He did that and even reminded her about it during his investiture ceremony.
He composed some catchy TV theme tunes, like for Blind Date and Beadle’s About. His talent was recognized with a gold badge from the Ivors Academy back in 1993. He leaves behind his daughters and three grandsons, who must be so proud of his incredible legacy.