The Ronnie Scott's Team

Sally Greene - Club Owner

In 2005, Theatre impresario, Producer and Restaurateur, Sally Greene, became the proud new owner of Ronnie Scott's. Her purchase of the club is testament to Sally's ongoing commitment to the sympathetic restoration and rejuvenation of some of the capitals most iconic establishments, notably, the Richmond Theatre, the Criterion - which was heralded as London's "prettiest theatre" following Sally's painstaking restoration project, and, of course, The Old Vic. In 2000, Sally appointed Kevin Spacey as artistic director of this most famous historic theatre, which has led to strong Anglo-American collaborations both here and across the pond.

As co-producer, the formidable critical and commercial success of Billy Elliot: The Musical, speaks for itself: now one of the highest earning shows in the West End, Billy Elliot has scooped numerous awards, including the Evening Standard Best Musical Award (2005) and a staggering four Laurence Olivier Awards in 2006. It is due to transfer to Broadway in late 2007.

Sally's keen eye for detail and strong entrepreneurial instincts drew her to the restaurant business and in 2004 she opened the Cheyne Walk Brasserie, a now famous and much loved Chelsea eatery, recently voted restaurant of the year by Harpers magazine.

In many ways, Ronnie's is the logical culmination of Sally's career to date, bringing together her love of jazz, her proven expertise in the competitive restaurant trade and, above all, her sensitive restoration skills. Sally's magnetic energy and enthusiasm persuaded the great Jacques Garcia (designer of the award-winning Hotel Costes in Paris) to head up the expert design team at Ronnie Scott's and work is already well underway.

Sally promises a wonderful look for the club that will retain the best of what made Ronnie Scott's the finest jazz club in the world, whilst gently nudging it into the 21st century... watch this space...

Pete King - Lifetime President (1929-2009)

 On December 20th 2009, Pete King sadly passed away.

Pete attended Malmesbury Road Junior School, Bow until aged 10yrs. Evacuated to a farm in Burlescombe, Devon, during World War II. Pete won a scholarship to attend Agricultural College at Budleigh Salterton, Devon but was unable to attend, as he had to move back to London aged 14yrs to help look after disabled Mother.

His father was a bus driver and Pete's brother, Roy, played piano. As a consequence, Pete developed an interest in music and decided to take up the clarinet after seeing a movie poster of Benny Goodman. Pete took lessons for 3yrs from Jack Lewis (Vera Lynn's Father in law) and tenor sax tuition from Les Evans.

By the time he was 18 Pete was a semi-professional with saxophonist Jack Oliver's Band in East London. His first professional work was in 1947 with Leslie 'Jiver' Hutchinson (Elaine Delmar's Father). Pete also worked with Ambrose, Kenny Graham, Teddy Foster, Leon Roy and Paul Fenoulhet. With Oscar Rabin from 1948 until joining Kathy Stobart's band in May 1950. He left Stobart to join Jack Parnell (1952) then became founder member of Ronnie Scott's poll winning 9-piece band in 1953. Remained with Ronnie Scott's band for 4yrs, and later was Manager of the Jazz Couriers (featuring Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes).

Pete retired from playing and became Ronnie Scott's business partner, successfully running Ronnie Scott's Club, first at 39 Gerrard Street, Soho, (30th October 1959) and then moving to 47 Frith Street, Soho, in the summer of 1965. During this period, Pete developed a keen interest in car racing and was very successful in the European Saloon Car Championship over a period of 4yrs and is a member of the British Racing Drivers' Club.

In the summer of 2000, Pete received an MBE for his services to jazz, in the Queen's Birthday Honour's List and another two awards followed shortly. The first was in October 2000, at the Coda Club, where Pete received his "gong" from Michael Parkinson, and the second was in July 2001, at the first BBC Jazz Awards, sponsored by Radios 2 and 3. This time the award was presented by Charlie Watts.

Pete sold Ronnie Scott's to Sally Greene in June 2005. He was made honorary lifetime president of Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.

Michael Watt - Co-Owner

Michael Watt (left) with Simon Cooke

Co-owner Michael Watt first visited Ronnie's in 1960 and this was the beginning of a long-running relationship with the club. An international businessman and entrepeneur specialising in the field of televised sports and the entertainment industry his early days were spent working in Jazz Clubs in the USA and as a driller in oil fields around the world.

Michael has interests in many Broadway, West End and Australian theatre productions as well as music. He is the only New Zealander to have received a Tony and with partner Korda Marshall, he owns the record label Infectious, which includes the major Australian band The Temper Trap, and the American band, Local Natives.

A dedicated conservationist and supporter of a wide range of charitable organistaions including ventures in Cuba, Nicaragua, Syria, Mozambique and a music school in South Africa, he was awarded the ONZ for International Philanthropy.

Michael is one of the few people who can recall the seminal Bill Evans Sessions at Ronnie's and after such a long and colourful patronage he took little persuading to become co-owner and join Sally Greene in revamping the club, which is as he says, 'now in a position to honour its iconaclastic founder Ronnie Scott and partner Pete King, for another 50 years

Simon Cooke - Managing Director

Simon has worked in and around the live music business since 1979 when he was manager at the legendary London live music club, The Venue. Thereafter he spent a few years on the road with some of the major artists of the early eighties before setting up a tour merchandise company to represent artists of the calibre of Genesis, Queen, Prince, Bowie, Bob Dylan, AC/DC and many many more.

A change of direction in 1990 lead to a working relationship with the newly launched Jazz fm radio station with whom Simon worked until 2003. Whilst at jazz fm Simon set up the Jazz Enterprise division which expanded the business portfolio of the company and more than doubled the revenue through the creation of Jazz fm Records, Hed Kandi, concert promoting, events management and web sites.

After the purchase of Jazz fm by GMG, Simon moved on to become founder Director of The Local Radio Company PLC before taking a year out, followed by a contract at Comic Relief before returning to his major love of live music, and particularly jazz, here at Ronnie Scott's.