Acker Bilk (b. Bernard Stanley Bilk, Pensford, Somerset South West England, 28 January 1929), known more familiarly as Mr. Acker Bilk, has been one of the world's best known clarinetists since the late 1950s. His trademark goatee, bowler hat, and striped waistcoat are almost as recognizable as his breathy, vibrato-rich, lower-register clarinet style.