Ronnie Scott Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Ronnie Scott was a renowned British jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner who helped popularize modern jazz in the UK. Born in 1927, he began playing in his teens and worked professionally as a musician in the 1940s.

In the 1950s, Scott became one of the leading British bebop saxophone players. He toured in the U.S., recorded with British and American stars, and was a featured soloist. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities for British jazz musicians, in 1959 he opened Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London’s Soho district.

The intimate club quickly gained a reputation as Britain’s top jazz venue. It attracted the biggest names in jazz and launched the careers of many British jazz talents. As the charismatic master of ceremonies, Scott peppered his announcements with surreal jokes, which became a beloved trademark. In 1965, the club moved to a larger venue and remains an institution today. Scott ran the club until his death in 1996.

Scott’s Soho jazz club played a major role in making jazz popular in Britain and provided a platform for both British and international jazz legends. Located in the heart of London’s entertainment district, the original basement club on Gerrard Street that he operated from 1959 to 1965 is commemorated with a blue plaque erected in 2019. It stands as a monument to Scott’s immense contributions to jazz music in the UK.