I look at my clarinet sometimes and I think, I wonder what's going to come out of there tonight? You never know.

The event included George Melly Diz Disley Alex Welsh Chris Barber Kenny Ball Ken Colyer Monty Sunshine Bob Wallis Bruce Turner Mick Mulligan and Bilk. "Stranger on the Shore" sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. Upon the birth of his daughter he composed and dedicated a melody entitled "Jenny" (her name).

He is known for his trademark goatee bowler hat striped waistcoat and his breathy vibrato-rich lower-register clarinet style. Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk MBE (born 28 January 1929) is an English clarinettist.