Introduction
My name is Jeffrey Kruger and I am the CEO of The Kruger Organisation, Inc., [TKO] an entertainment company that deals in many facets of the entertainment industry. That's me [below] with Sir George Martin, the world famous producer of the Beatles.
TKO has record labels; music publising interests; film and video shows in release and still promotes special events and carefully selected concert tours in the UK and Europe and Iceland.
Background History
I was born in London's East End, and my early aspirations were as a Jazz pianist. I soon became aware that there were others who could play better than I ever would manage but that I had a flair, ambiton and courage to provide them with the means of expanding their talent and its impact.
I decided to open my own Jazz club in the West End of London so I could work along side these great musicians.
The Flamingo Jazz Club which I founded became a true legend. Through the 50's and 60's it was London's major Jazz venue and indeed rated alongside New York's Birdland and the Blue Note in Paris.
Virtually every major name in the Jazz, R & B and Rock fields was to appear at the Flamingo - from Billie Holiday to Dizzy Gillespie and Erroll Garner to John Lee Hooker, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Jimi Hendrix. Van Morrison's Them; Moody Blues; Deep Purple; Stevie Wonder and Status Quo all appeared at the club and it was the home base for Georgie Fame; Geno Washington; Zoot Money Big Roll Band featuring Andy Summers later of Police fame; and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton + Led Zeppelin; the Rolling Stones; the Who etc
The Beatles also dropped in to catch the shows.
But the club was just the start of it where I was concerned. America beckoned and I soon became a regular Transatlantic commuter not just to find acts for my club but to pick up music publishin deals and track down worthwhile recordings to release on my then embroyo label, ember records and I then started to promote concerts and club dates with artists outside of the the jazz genre.
Among the artists I have presented in concert through the years have been such wonderful and varied talent as The Jackson Bros; Gladys Knight and the Pips; Barry White; Marvin Gaye; Glen Campbell; Anne Murray; Tammy Wynette; Johnny Cash; Kris Kristofferson; Rudolph Nureyev; The Stars of the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet companies performing 'Swan Lake'; Andy Williams; Dionne Warwick; George Burns; Jack Benny; Vic Damone; Al Martino; Placido Domingo; Jerry Lee Lewis; Bill Haley and his Comets and countless others. And this was called work!!!!!
Before opening the club, I worked for Columbia Pictures and a British film company, Eros Films selling films. I was always an avid movie watcher and even now almost 50 years on I still watch a lot of films. At the time I formed ember Film Distributors and the first film we acquired was the elitist film 'The Shooting' starring newcomer Jack Nicholson. We were a very creative distributor and anticipating the input Kung Fu films would have, we released 'Ten Fingers of Steel' before the mighty Warner Bros released their 'Enter The Dragon' and so benfited from their massive promotion campaign. All in all we relased some 40 movies and still represent many films and Television shows today.
These were inovative activities back then - perhaps hard for today's generation to fully comprehend and when so much is available and much taken for granted.
In celebrating my 55th. Anniversary in the business this year, I am still semi-active having been forced to curtail many activities because of health problems.
For my services to Music and Jazz I have been honoured by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth in her recent New Year's Honour Lists with an award of the coveted M.B.E. This stands for Member of the British Empire, and it is part of the Orders of Chivary and Knighthood dating back hundreds of years. It is nice to see my life's work recognsed.
If you would like any additional information please e-mail me on tkoinc@tkogroup.com>
“Jeffrey Kruger has a love and dedication for soul, blues and jazz music which dates back half a century, rooted in the jazz club scene in London and his early love for American doo-wop and R&B artists, which took him on pioneering trips to New York during the mid-50's hey-day of rock'n'roll.
He started a business relationship with AI Silver of Herald/Ember Records, and adopted the Ember brand to launch his own record outlet in Britain. This pioneering venture provided him with the opportunity to release music by some of the biggest names in R&B in the early 1960's, such as James Brown, John Lee Hooker, Jack Dupree, B.B. King, the Platters and Billy Ward's Dominoes, featuring Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson.
With the onset of the soul era, the Kruger 'ear' for musical quality again paid dividends with singles releases by The Intruders "Cowboys to Girls" and Little Esther Phillips "Release Me", along with a host of other material enjoyed by the soul collectors market, while the concert division of The Kruger Organisation brought such notable talent as Gladys Knight & the Pips and Marvin Gaye to the UK.
Click here for more information about the Birth of The Flamingo ClubTo have the 'ear' and 'eye' to 'put your money where your mouth is' with what was then considered 'specialist' music, and remain in business decades later to continue reaping the reward reflects a rare talent and durability in the music world - one that also recognised the artistry of Glen Campbell and sold him to the British market before the executives of a major label awoke to his commercial potential.
These factors, plus numerous others omitted due to lack of space, make Dr Jeffrey S.Kruger, MBE, one of the Great British Men of Music.”
Clive Richardson
My Interests
Aside from my work I love reading; watching movies; listening to good music of all genres; watching soccer and travelling.
My Favourite Links
TKO has acquired world rights and exclusive ownership in and to all the classic 1950/1960 films and television series from the world famous Danziger Film Production unit. These are currently being collated, digitalised and brought up-to-date for potential licensing to interested parties.
These include all the episodes of Sabre of London, Richard the Lionheart, Man from Interpol, The Cheaters, The Edger Lusgarten Series and Calling Scotland Yard amongst many more.
Collectors can currently visit the Media Classics website or contact info@mediaclassics.co.uk to purchase these rare items on DVD.