Bent Fabric

Born Bent Fabricius-Bjerre, pianist Bent Fabric assembled his own jazz ensemble after World War II and launched the independent label Metronome in 1950. Recognition arrived only in 1961, once his single “Alley Cat” reached listeners throughout Denmark. The track’s appeal prompted a worldwide release the next year and earned a Grammy for Best Rock & Roll Record in the United States. Although Atlantic continued to issue additional recordings, none matched the impact of “Alley Cat.” Attention returned briefly in 2006 when the remixed collection Jukebox appeared. Bent Fabric died on July 28, 2020, at age 95 following a short illness.