Pete King...
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Pete King...
Early 1950s Pete King was born in Bow, London in August, 1929. On his return to London after the second world war he he took tenor sax and clarinet lessons and got his first professional work with Leslie 'Jiver' Hutchinson in 1947. He subsequently worked in the bands of Kenny Graham, Teddy Foster and Leon Roy. He was then with Oscar Rabin from 1948 until joining Kathy Stobart's band in May, 1950, and he stayed until 1952 when he joined Jack Parnell.
He left that band along with other musicians who became the nucleus of Ronnie Scott's legendary nine piece orchestra that for three years from 1953 was the top attraction in British jazz for nearly four years.
When Ronnie Scott formed the Jazz Couriers with Tubby Hayes in 1957, King became the manager of the group. In 1959 he and Ronnie Scott formed ronnie scott's which, after a shaky few years, became the premier jazz club in the world. King gave up his playing career to concentrate on running the club while Scott concentrated on the music. He was a lifelong friend of Ronnie's and became his personal manager.
Early 1950s with Ronnie Scott (left)
After Ronnie's death in 1996 the club continued in Pete King's hands for another ten years. He had always been the partner who dealt with the business side of the club and was responsible for it's eventual success.
After a period of illness Pete King died on December 20th, 2009.
The detailed story of ronnie scott's is told elsewhere on this website....
39 Gerrard Street.........47 Frith Street.........Ronnie Scott Orchestra...

Kathy Stobart & her Orchestra - October, 1951 (Decibel)
Bert Courtley (tp), Derek Humble (as), Kathy Stobart, Pete King (ts), Alex Leslie (bs), Dennis Armitage (p), Len Harrison (b), Pete Bray (d), Franklin Boyd (vcl).
He Was A Good Man/Idaho (FB vcl)/Old Black Magic/Lover Come Back To Me.

Ronnie Scott Quintet - September 16th, 1952 (Esquire)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Pete King (ts), Dill Jones (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d).
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes#/Scott's Expedition^/Avalon#/Love Me Or Leave Me*.
(*Ember CD - Ronnie Scott Legacy)
(*Ember CD - The Best Of British Jazz featuring the stars of the British modern jazz scene from the 1950s and 1960s)

(#Hallmark CD - Basement Bop - British jazz in the 1950s)
(*#^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott")

Jack Parnell and his Orchestra - October 28th, 1952 (Parlophone PMD1053)
Jimmy Deuchar, Albert Hall, Jo Hunter (tp), Mac Minshull, Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Ronnie Scott (ts), Pete King (ts,bs-cl), Harry Klein (bs), Max Harris (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Jack Parnell, Phil Seamen (d).
Catherine Wheel^#/The Champ^*/Summertime^.
(*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott)
(^Vocalion CD - Trip to Mars / Parnell On Parade)

(#Giant Steps 2CD set - Soho After Dark 'London's '50s Modern Jazz Scene')
(^Avid CD - Jack Parnell: Two Classic Albums plus Two Eps)

Jack Parnell and his Orchestra - January 1st, 1953 (Parlophone)
Jimmy Deuchar, Ronnie Simmonds, Jo Hunter (tp), Mac Minshull, Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Joe Temperley (ts), Pete King (ts,bs-cl), Harry Klein (bs), Max Harris (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Jack Parnell, Phil Seamen (d).
Waltzing The Blues*.
(*EMI Gold CD - Jack Parnell Big Band Swing)

Ronnie Scott Jazz Group - February 10th, 1953. A BBC World Service broadcast from the Paris Cinema Studio in London. (Esquire 32.002)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Pete King (ts), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d).
I May Be Wrong*/On The Alamo*/Day Dream*/Stringin' The Jug/Lullaby In Rhythm/Seven Eleven/What's New?*/S'wonderful/How Am I To Know?/Just One Of Those Things.
(*Time Music International CD - Ronnie Scott Live at the Jazz Club)
(*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott")

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - April 13th, 1953 (Esquire)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d).
Lover Come Back To Me*/Compos Mentis*.
(*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott)
(*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...)
(*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott")

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - August 13th, 1953 (Esquire)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d).
Double or Nothing/Hard Feelings/Stompin' At The Savoy*/Body Beautiful*.
(*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott)
(*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...)
(*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott")

February 1st, 1954 (Esquire)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d).
I Get A Kick Out Of You/Cymbalism/Humble Pie/Dear Old Southland.

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - March 17th, 1954. A BBC World Service broadcast from the "Criterion Restaurant" in London. (Esquire 32.003) (JJ4)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d).
Fast And Loose*/Body Beautiful*/Yardbird Suite(1)*/If I Should Lose You*/In The Land Of Nimbupani*/Laura(2)*/Oo-Shoo-Be-Do-Be(rs,pk voc)*/This Can't Be Love(3)*/Dear Old Southland*/El Sino(4)*/I Wished On The Moon*/Nemo*
(1) JD, DH + rhythm only. (2) RS + rhythm only. (3) VF (vibes) + b + d only. (4) KW, PK, BG + TC (pno) + b + d.
(*Acrobat CD - Ronnie Scott "Fast & Loose (Live in 1954)")

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - May 17th, 1954 (Esquire)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d).
Perdido/Cherokee/In The Land Of Nimbupani/Fast And Loose.

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - September 7th, 1954 (Esquire 32.006)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Mac Minshull (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Crombie (d).
Fine And Dandy/Bouncin' With Bud (JD, DH + rhythm only)/Things Ain't What They Used To Be/Serenade In Blue (VF vibes, +b and d)/Humble Pie/'Cuse These Bloos/Perdido/Tenderly/Fuller Bop Man/Nice Work If You Can Get It (VF vibes, +b and d)/Tin Tin Deo/Fools Rush In (RS + rhythm only)/In The Land Of Nimbupani.

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - November 2nd, 1954 (Esquire EP31*)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Hank Shaw (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d).
Taboo/Second Helping/Seamen's Mission*/Lester Leaps In*.

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - January 4th, 1955 (Esquire)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Hank Shaw (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d).
Evening In Paris/After You've Gone/But Not For Me/Serenity.

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - February 23rd, 1955 (Esquire EP61) (JMC22)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Hank Shaw (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d).
Parisian Thoroughfare/Don't Worry 'Bout Me/Quicksilver+/Time After Time.
(+ Different take to original 78)

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - April 13th, 1955 (Esquire EP81)
Ronnie Scott (ts), Derek Humble (as), Pete King (ts), Hank Shaw (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Benny Green (bs), Victor Feldman (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d).
S'il Vous Plait*+/Jordu*+/Pearl+/This Heart Of Mine.
(*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott")
(+ Different take to original 78)

Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists - May 6th, 1955 (Esquire EP83*) (JMC17*/25^)
Leo Wright (tp), Kenny Graham, Eddie Mordue, Pete King, Alan Rowe (ts), Bill Andrews (bs), Lennie Metcalfe (p), Victor Feldman (vib,conga), Sammy Stokes (b), Phil Seamen (d).
Caravan*/Kings Cross Climax*/When Your Lover Has Gone^/When A Bodgie Meets A Widgie^.

Ronnie Scott Orchestra - October 11th, 1955 (Esquire EP85) (JMC28)
Stan Palmer, Hank Shaw, Dave Usden, Jimmy Watson, (tp) Jack Botterill, Robin Kaye, Mac Minshull, Ken Wray (tb), Joe Harriott, Doug Robinson (as), Pete King, Ronnie Scott (ts), Benny Green (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Eric Peter (b), Phil Seamen (d).
Bang*#/With Every Breath I Take*/A Night In Tunisia*#/The Big Fist*#.
(*Giant Steps CD - Killer Joe: Birth Of A Legend)
(*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott")
(#Proper Box 4CD set - The Joe Harriott Story)


Vic Feldman Big Band - December 12th, 1956 (Tempo TAP12)
Bobby Pratt, Jimmy Deuchar, Dizzy Reece (tp), Ken Wray (tb), Derek Humble (as), Ronny Scott, Tubby Hayes (ts), Pete King (bs), John Burden (french horn), Jim Powell (tuba), Norman Stenfalt (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d).
Karen*^.
(*Jasmine CD - Victor Feldman in London - Vol 2)
(^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Tubby Hayes - The Little Giant)



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