“He was the backroom brains and driving force of the club,” said Massarik. “His forceful and dedicated style of management made it possible for Londoners to hear almost all the world’s greatest jazz stars at close quarters in a relaxed, intimate environment.”
While Scott was the club’s frontman, King handled day to day operations. Gruff, jocular and a true Cockney, he was born in Bow in 1929. After serving in the Second World War, he took tenor sax and clarinet lessons and played in bands with Forties stars including Kenny Graham, Teddy Foster and Leon Roy.
In 1952, he recorded with the quintet run by Scott. The pair later worked together in the Victor Feldman Big Band and at the end of the decade they opened their jazz club. King gave up playing to manage the venue.
Arriving at noon and working until 3am six days a week, he took care of every detail, from booking the stars and fixing their work permits to paying bills and calculating the waitresses’ nightly commission.
Scott died of a suspected drug overdose while depressed just before Christmas 1996. In 2005, King sold the club to theatre producer Sally Greene, who also runs the Old Vic.
King leaves a widow, Stella, and a son, Chris.
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