HE would reach for his trademark bowler hat which had been resting on top of a piano and play the iconic instrumental that made him a global star.

Jazz legend Acker Bilk always rounded off his gigs at Eastleigh’s Concorde Club with Stranger on the Shore.

And there was not a dry eye in the house as he played the haunting melody of the early 60s hit and biggest-selling instrumental single of all time.

The mesmerising recording was in the charts for 55 weeks and he was the first male Briton to have a number one single in the American Billboard Charts.

He scooped four gold discs and the Ivor Novello Award.

Now Hampshire jazz fans are mourning the death of the king of the clarinet who was part of the boom in traditional jazz which swept the UK in the late 50s and 60s.

Acker, who lived in Somerset, has died at 85 after a long illness.

Born Bernard Stanley Bilk, he changed his name to Acker – Somerset slang for mate – after learning the clarinet in the Army.

In 2001 he was awarded the MBE for services to the music industry.

A regular headliner at The Concorde, his links with the club go back to the days it ran from the back room of Southampton’s Bassett Hotel.

It was five years ago that Acker, surrounded by his family and friends, celebrated his 80th birthday at The Concorde which is now in Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh.

Champagne corks popped and he cut a special cake before going on stage with his Paramount Jazz Band.

In an interview before the show, Acker was full of praise for The Concorde and said: “I could not think of a better place to celebrate my birthday.”

Acker revealed how Stranger on the Shore was originally named Jenny after his daughter. But the title had to be changed for a British TV series.

It was about two years ago that Acker played his last gig at The Concorde. Before going on stage he told the Daily Echo about how his health problems were affecting his legs. But he was determined to keep on playing the music he loved.

He went on to give a class performance with Stranger on the Shore getting a standing ovation.

Last year he had to pull out of a performance at the club because of health problems.

But the multi-talented Paramount Jazz Band stepped in and delivered a package of hot swinging jazz which included Acker favourites like Memphis Blues, Riverboat Shuffle, Mood Indigo and Savoy Blues.

Concorde boss Cole Mathieson said he was “very sad to see Acker has passed on to the great jazz club above”.

“He had played The Concorde many times since 1965, always charming with a laconic sense of humour, playing the great melodies of jazz always interspaced with many many jokes.

“The bowler hat on the piano which was only put on when he played his pension piece, as he like to call Stranger on the Shore.”