On March 17th 1962, Alexis Korner & Cyril Davies founded what was to be Britain’s first dedicated electric blues club (or Rhythm and Blues club) at a basement premises opposite Ealing Broadway station. At that venue in April 1962, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met Brian Jones which subsequently led to the formation of The Rolling Stones who would “cut their teeth” at the club. By March 1963, Ian Stewart, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts had joined thus completing the definitive line-up.

Other musicians who also ‘paid their dues’ at this iconic club included, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Paul Jones, Jeff Beck, Mitch Mitchell, Pete Townshend and more… Musicologists over the world generally regard 17th March 1962 as being the beginning of the British Rhythm and Blues movement which was to feature heavily in the ‘Invasion of America’ by British groups in the 1960’s. Manfred Mann, being the first Ealing club band to break the US market.

A Commemorative Plaque was unveiled at 1pm on Sat 17th March 2012 at The Red Room – former site of the original Ealing Club (exactly 50 years since British Rhythm & Blues began there) by Bobbie Korner, widow of Alexis.  After which the Club was opened to the public for an afternoon of live blues organised by Ealing Musician Robert Hokum.

A crowd gathered outside The Red Rooms, site of the old Ealing Club premises to see the plaque being unveiled.

Alexis Korner biographer Harry Shapiro and Bob Harris were among the throng

Alexis’s widow Bobbie Korner and The Mayor Of Ealing performed the ceremony surrounded by cameras and phones…

The actual moment took people by surprise…

Charlie Watts – sometime drummer with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated – chats to Bobbie Korner after the ceremony.

The newly unveiled Plaque now opposite Ealing Broadway station.

The Red Room is at 42a The Broadway, London W5 2NP
(down the steps beside Haart agency opposite Ealing Broadway station)
and the modern Ealing Club website is at ealing-club.com