Flamingo Club (London)
Encyclopedia
The Flamingo Club was a nightclub
that operated in Soho
, London
, between 1952 and the late 1960s. It was located at 33-37 Wardour Street
from 1957 onwards, and played an important role in the development of British rhythm and blues
and jazz
.
The club was started in August 1952 by Jeffrey Kruger, and was originally located at the Mapleton Restaurant in Coventry Street
. Kruger's intention was to provide a centre for high quality jazz in comfortable surroundings. Early versions of the club's resident band included saxophonists Joe Harriott
and Ronnie Scott
, drummer Tony Crombie
and pianist Tommy Pollard, and the club rapidly gained a strong reputation, attracting visiting performers such as Sarah Vaughan
, Ella Fitzgerald
and Billie Holiday
.
In April 1957 the club moved to new premises in Wardour Street, where it initially remained primarily a jazz venue. In October 1962, the club was the scene of a fight between jazz fans Aloysius Gordon
and Johnny Edgecombe
, both lovers of Christine Keeler
, which through a chain of events ultimately led to the public revelations of the Profumo Affair
.
By 1963 the Flamingo had become known as a centre of the Mod subculture, where fans and musicians of both jazz and R&B music would meet together. Through the resulting melting pot of music and fashion, it is suggested that it influenced the breakdown of racial prejudice
in post-war British society. The club became particularly well known for its weekend "all-nighters", staying open until 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Bands who performed at the club regularly in the early and mid 1960s included Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
- who released an EP
Rhythm & Blues at The Flamingo in 1964 - Zoot Money's Big Roll Band
, Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds, and Shotgun Express
featuring Rod Stewart
. The club became recognised as a meeting place for famous musicians, with members of The Beatles
, The Rolling Stones
, Jimi Hendrix
and many others all being regular customers.
The club later renamed itself as The Pink Flamingo, and closed in the late 1960s. Jeffrey Kruger established Ember Records
and later the TKO Group, and became a leading music promoter; he was awarded the MBE
in 2002 for services to the music industry.
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
that operated in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, between 1952 and the late 1960s. It was located at 33-37 Wardour Street
Wardour Street
Wardour Street is a street in Soho, London. It is a one-way street south to north from Leicester Square, up through Chinatown, across Shaftesbury Avenue to Oxford Street.-History:...
from 1957 onwards, and played an important role in the development of British rhythm and blues
British rhythm and blues
British rhythm and blues developed as a major musical movement in the early 1960s in London and other urban centres in the UK as predominately young white male musicians attempted to emulate the style and recordings of African American rhythm and blues artists...
and jazz
British jazz
British jazz is a form of music derived from American jazz. It reached Britain through recordings and performers who visited the country while it was a relatively new genre, soon after the end of World War I. Jazz began to be played by British musicians from the 1930s and on a widespread basis in...
.
The club was started in August 1952 by Jeffrey Kruger, and was originally located at the Mapleton Restaurant in Coventry Street
Coventry Street
Coventry Street is a short London street, within the City of Westminster, running from Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square. The street is the main conduit between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square and at the weekend up to 150,000 people walk from one to another along the street...
. Kruger's intention was to provide a centre for high quality jazz in comfortable surroundings. Early versions of the club's resident band included saxophonists Joe Harriott
Joe Harriott
Joseph Arthurlin 'Joe' Harriott was a Jamaican jazz musician and composer, whose principal instrument was the alto saxophone....
and Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
, drummer Tony Crombie
Tony Crombie
Anthony John "Tony" Crombie was an English jazz drummer, pianist, bandleader and composer. He was regarded as one of the finest jazz drummers and bandleaders, and occasional but very capable pianist and vibraphonist, to emerge in Britain, and as an energising influence on the British jazz scene...
and pianist Tommy Pollard, and the club rapidly gained a strong reputation, attracting visiting performers such as Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
and Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
.
In April 1957 the club moved to new premises in Wardour Street, where it initially remained primarily a jazz venue. In October 1962, the club was the scene of a fight between jazz fans Aloysius Gordon
Aloysius Gordon
Aloysius "Lucky" Gordon is a British-based Jamaican jazz pianist and singer who came to public attention during the Profumo Affair. He arrived in London from Jamaica in the late 1940s.-Profumo Affair:...
and Johnny Edgecombe
Johnny Edgecombe
John Arthur Alexander "Johnny" Edgecombe was a British jazz promoter and criminal, whoseinvolvement with Christine Keeler inadvertently alerted authorities to the Profumo Affair.-Early life:...
, both lovers of Christine Keeler
Christine Keeler
Christine Margaret Keeler is an English former model and showgirl. Her involvement with a British government minister discredited the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan in 1963, in what is known as the Profumo Affair....
, which through a chain of events ultimately led to the public revelations of the Profumo Affair
Profumo Affair
The Profumo Affair was a 1963 British political scandal named after John Profumo, Secretary of State for War. His affair with Christine Keeler, the reputed mistress of an alleged Russian spy, followed by lying in the House of Commons when he was questioned about it, forced the resignation of...
.
By 1963 the Flamingo had become known as a centre of the Mod subculture, where fans and musicians of both jazz and R&B music would meet together. Through the resulting melting pot of music and fashion, it is suggested that it influenced the breakdown of racial prejudice
Racism in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had racism, from medieval times, through years of the slave trade to the modern day. However, racism has declined from past levels.-Modern Britain:...
in post-war British society. The club became particularly well known for its weekend "all-nighters", staying open until 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Bands who performed at the club regularly in the early and mid 1960s included Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames were a noted British rhythm and blues/soul/jazz/ska/pop group of the 1960s. They had been the backing band for Billy Fury but, after being dismissed at the end of 1961, their pianist Georgie Fame took over as vocalist and they went on to enjoy great...
- who released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Rhythm & Blues at The Flamingo in 1964 - Zoot Money's Big Roll Band
Zoot Money's Big Roll Band
Zoot Money's Big Roll Band was a British rhythm and blues, soul and jazz group formed in England in early autumn 1961.-History:An early line-up had Zoot Money as vocalist and Al Kirtley on piano but in the band's best-known form Money himself played Hammond organ. Bassist/vocalist Paul Williams...
, Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds, and Shotgun Express
Shotgun Express
Shotgun Express was a short-lived British R&B band formed in London in May 1966. Although it achieved little success at the time, it is notable for having briefly included such subsequently famous musicians as Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green....
featuring Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
. The club became recognised as a meeting place for famous musicians, with members of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and many others all being regular customers.
The club later renamed itself as The Pink Flamingo, and closed in the late 1960s. Jeffrey Kruger established Ember Records
Ember Records
Ember Records was the name of two record labels of the 1950s and 1960s, one American and one British.-1950s to 60s:In the late 1950s, the eccentric avid jazz fan Jeffrey Kruger, owner of the famous Flamingo Jazz Club, was looking for a new challenge...
and later the TKO Group, and became a leading music promoter; he was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 2002 for services to the music industry.