Alexis Korner
Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner
Born: 19th April 1928, Paris, France.
Died: 1st January 1984, London, England.
Korner had travelled with his parents through Switzerland and North Africa before settling in London as a 12 year-old. He grew up listening to the early blues pioneers and his music career as guitarist & singer really began with engagements in [a1421932] & [a=Chris Barber] bands.
In 1956 Korner met [a=Cyril Davis], with whom he founded the famed blues club in Ealing and the band [a=Blues Incorporated]. Their aim was to play 'real' and uncompromising blues - probably the first 'electric British blues' bands - becoming a platform for the careers of those such as [a=Mick Jagger], Brian Jones, [a=Jack Bruce], [a=Charlie Watts] any many others.
Davis left in 1963 and Blues Incorporated disbanded in 1967. The following years saw Korner in many bands, most of them short-lived: "Free At Last", "[a=New Church]" and "[a=Snape]". From the late 60's Korner toured, often as "Duo" [[a1251059]] - for instance with [a=Peter Thorup], but mostly with bassist [a=Colin Hodgkinson]. By the late 70's Korner gained recognition as a Radio DJ & broadcaster, continuing to record sporadically, with bands such as C.C.S. & Snape. His 50th birthday all-star concert was released as "The Party Album". In 1981 he worked in a new direction with the band [a1227376], prior to his death from lung cancer in 1984.
His daughter Sappho Gillett [aka [a1234779]] & son 'Nico' (Nicholas) are now musicians and his other son [a=Damian Korner] is a sound engineer.