Rolling Stones' front man Mick Jagger has said he is "so sad" following the death of Cleo Sylvestre, "the first female vocalist to sing with the Stones".
Sylvestre, also known as Cleopatra Palmer, who had been a feature of film, stage, television and music since the 1960s, died at the age of 79 on Friday morning, according to a statement from Fulcrum Talent.
The veteran screen and stage star was known for playing Melanie Harper, Meg Richardson's adopted daughter, in ITV’s Crossroads and sang as Cleo, with the Rolling Stones backing her on a cover of To Know Him Is To Love Him in 1964.
Mick Jagger said in an Instagram story: "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."
The 81-year-old shared a black-and-white photo of the band with Sylvestre.
In an interview with Masterpiece PBS, Sylvestre had said her mother would often cook for the rock band.
"I mean, the Stones were always round, especially Brian (Jones) and Mick (Jagger)," she said.
"We lived in a council flat with a tiny little kitchen, and she’d do meals for 15 people."
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) said in a post to X: "We’re saddened to hear of the death of Cleo Sylvestre, who performed as Audrey in our As You Like It production last year."
"Our thoughts are with Cleo’s family and friends at this time."
Theatre At The Tabard, a theatre in Chiswick, west London, said in a social media post that it was "saddened to hear of the passing" of Sylvestre, who "graced our stage last year" for "a wonderful sold-out blues night."
The actor #CleoSylvestreMBE has crossed over.
— Bonnie Greer (@Bonn1eGreer) September 20, 2024
She was one of the reasons that-from my vantage point in NYC-that I thought that this country has the best anglophone theatre ..and the best place to be a #BlackWoman in it.
I still think that.
Thank you, Cleo!https://t.co/HylK4LuJyH
US-born playwright and author Bonnie Greer wrote on X that Sylvestre 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".
She added: "I still think that. Thank you, Cleo!"
Source: Press Association
