Alexis Korner

1.1. Birth and Childhood

Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner was born on 19 April 1928 in Paris, France. His father was an Austrian Jewish man, and his mother was of Greek, Turkish, and Austrian descent. He spent his childhood in various countries, including France, Switzerland, and North Africa.

1.2. Arrival in London and Musical Influence

Korner arrived in London in 1940, after the outbreak of World War II. A pivotal moment in his youth occurred during a German air raid when he listened to a record by the African-American blues pianist Jimmy Yancey. This experience left a deep impression on him, with Korner later stating, "From then on all I wanted to do was play the blues."

2.1. Early Activities and London Blues Club

After the war, Korner developed his musical skills, learning to play both guitar and piano. His first guitar was notably built by his friend, author Sydney Hopkins, known for writing Mister God, This Is Anna. In 1949, Korner joined Chris Barber's Jazz Band, where he met the blues harmonica player Cyril Davies. They began performing together as a duo and, in 1955, co-founded the highly influential London Blues and Barrelhouse Club at the Round House pub in Soho, London. This club became Britain's first dedicated blues venue, providing a stage for virtually unknown American blues artists in Britain, including notable figures such as Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, and Muddy Waters. Korner and Davies made their first record together in 1957. Korner's versatility was evident even then, as he played mandolin on one of the tracks of his first official record, a British EP recorded on Decca Records in London on 28 July 1955.

3.1. Formation and Activities of Blues Incorporated

In 1961, Korner and Davies officially formed Blues Incorporated. Initially, the group was a loose-knit collective of musicians united by their shared passion for electric blues and R&B music. From March 1962, Blues Incorporated began performing weekly on Saturdays at the Ealing Jazz Club in West London. The initial lineup included Korner on guitar, Davies on harmonica, Art Wood on vocals, and Charlie Watts on drums. Although Cyril Davies left the group in late 1962, Korner continued to lead Blues Incorporated, which recorded until 1966. By this time, however, many of its original stellar members and followers had departed to establish their own successful bands.

3.2. Key Musicians and Influenced Artists

Blues Incorporated served as a crucial incubator for talent, attracting a wide array of musicians who would become prominent figures in British music. The group's fluid membership included, at various times, Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce (double bass), Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry, Graham Bond, Danny Thompson, and Dick Heckstall-Smith. It also drew a younger audience, many of whom occasionally performed with the band. This list of future stars included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Geoff Bradford, Rod Stewart, John Mayall, and Jimmy Page.

Notably, Brian Jones participated in Korner's live performances, where he was discovered by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, a meeting that directly led to the formation of The Rolling Stones. Ginger Baker joined Blues Incorporated after Charlie Watts left, and Graham Bond, who joined as Davies' successor in late 1962, later departed in April 1963, taking Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker with him to form the Graham Bond Quartet, which evolved into the Graham Bond Organisation after John McLaughlin (guitar)'s departure in September 1963 and Dick Heckstall-Smith's arrival. While his former protégés like The Rolling Stones and Cream achieved global fame, Korner transitioned into the role of an 'elder statesman' of the scene.

4.1. Free At Last and Free

In 1966, Korner formed the trio Free At Last with Hughie Flint and Binky McKenzie. Flint later recalled that playing with Korner was "very loose," allowing them to perform a wide range of music from Percy Mayfield to Charles Mingus, with extensive guitar and bass solos. He noted Korner's "eclectic taste in music, very knowledgeable, and generous." Although Free At Last was short-lived, Korner ensured its legacy lived on by naming another aspiring young group of musicians, Free. Korner was instrumental in the band's formation in April 1968 and continued to mentor them until they secured a record deal with Island Records.

4.2. New Church, CCS, Snape, and Rocket 88

While touring Scandinavia, Korner formed the band New Church with guitarist and singer Peter Thorup. They performed as a support act at the Rolling Stones Free Concert in Hyde Park, London, on 5 July 1969. During this period, Korner also jammed with a then-unknown singer, Robert Plant, who would later join Led Zeppelin. Only two songs from these recordings, "Steal Away" and "Operator," are known to be in circulation. These were later included in the 1972 compilation album Bootleg Him!.

In 1970, Korner and Thorup formed a big-band ensemble called CCS, an acronym for "The Collective Consciousness Society." This group achieved significant commercial success in the UK with several hit singles produced by Mickie Most. Their version of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" was famously used as the theme for the BBC's Top of the Pops from 1970 to 1981. Another instrumental track, "Brother," served as the theme for the BBC Radio 1 Top 20/40 program in the 1970s and was also used on Radio Luxembourg for the Top 20 Singles chart in the 1990s. In June 1971, Korner collaborated with Hot Chocolate on their single "Brother Louie", providing a voice part. Also in June 1971, Korner participated in the recording of "Alexis Boogie" for B.B. King's album In London, alongside Humble Pie members Steve Marriott, Greg Ridley, and Jerry Shirley.

In 1973, Korner and Peter Thorup formed another group named Snape, which included Boz Burrell (bass), Mel Collins (flute, saxophone), and Ian Wallace (drums). Burrell, Collins, and Wallace were all former members of King Crimson who joined Korner after King Crimson's dissolution and a subsequent US tour in early 1972. Snape released the album Accidentally Borne in New Orleans in 1972. In the mid-1970s, while touring Germany, Korner developed a close working relationship with bassist Colin Hodgkinson of the support act Back Door, a collaboration that continued until Korner's death.

In 1975, Korner released his own "supersession" album, Get Off My Cloud, featuring an array of notable musicians including Keith Richards, Steve Marriott, Peter Frampton, Nicky Hopkins, and members of Joe Cocker's Grease Band. For his 50th birthday in 1978, an all-star concert was held, featuring many of his friends and collaborators, such as Eric Clapton, Paul Jones, Chris Farlowe, and Zoot Money. This concert was later released as The Party Album and as a video.

In 1981, Korner joined another "supergroup" called Rocket 88. This project, led by Ian Stewart, focused on boogie-woogie keyboard players and featured a rhythm section including Jack Bruce and Charlie Watts, along with a horn section. The band toured Europe and released an album on Atlantic Records. Korner also performed in Italy with Paul Jones and the Blues Society of Italian bluesman Guido Toffoletti.

5.1. Radio and Television Work

Korner embarked on a media career in the 1960s, initially working as a showbusiness interviewer. He later appeared on ITV's Five O'Clock Club, a children's television program. He also contributed articles about blues music to various music publications, all while continuing his own career as a blues artist, particularly in Europe. Korner gave one of his last radio interviews to BBC Midlands on the Record Collectors Show with Mike Adams and Chris Savory.

His main career focus in the 1970s shifted to broadcasting. In 1973, he presented a six-part documentary series on BBC Radio 1 titled The Rolling Stones Story. In 1977, he launched Alexis Korner's Blues and Soul Show, a Sunday-night program on Radio 1 that ran until 1981. His distinctive, gravelly voice was also effectively utilized in advertising voice-overs. In 1983, Korner hosted the 13-part BBC Radio 1 series Guitar Greats, where he interviewed various artists and played their music.

6.1. "Father of British Blues"

Alexis Korner is widely regarded as a foundational figure in British blues and R&B, often referred to as the "founding father of British blues." His crucial role involved not only performing the music but also creating platforms, such as the London Blues and Barrelhouse Club and Blues Incorporated, that nurtured talent and fostered the early British music scene. He was instrumental in bringing together and mentoring many young artists who would go on to become global superstars, thereby significantly shaping the sound of British music in the 1960s and beyond.

6.2. Musical Style and Eclecticism

Despite being a blues purist himself, Korner was critical of some better-known British blues musicians during the blues boom of the late 1960s, particularly their rigid adherence to Chicago blues as if it were the only form of the genre. His own musical approach was characterized by its diversity and willingness to experiment. He frequently surrounded himself with jazz musicians and often performed with a horn section, drawing from a pool of talented players including saxophone players Art Themen, Mel Collins, Dick Heckstall-Smith, and Lol Coxhill. This eclecticism reflected his broad musical vision and his desire to integrate various elements into his blues performances.

9.1. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

In 2024, Alexis Korner was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the musical influence category. He was inducted by Keith Richards, a testament to his profound impact on generations of musicians.