It was Jeffrey who, through his world famous Flamingo Club on London's Wardour Street, provided first a showcase for all the major names in British modern jazz as well as such noble jazz-oriented visitors as Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Thelma Carpenter, Mary Lou Williams, Carmen McRae, Hoagy Carmichael, The Modern Jazz Quartet; Garland Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald and Stan Kenton among others.

The Flamingo was the first trendsetting 'in' club with a who's who in society among its members, including royalty and was the forerunner of the discos of today.

On a visit to the United States, Jeffrey first heard the sounds of what would soon be rock 'n' roll. So intrigued was he that he returned home and became the first person to recognize and launch rock 'n' roll in Britain. With a jazz drummer, he formed Tony Crombie and the Rockets and a band singer to lead Art Baxter's Sinners. They were the first in a long success story of rock 'n' roll artists in the U.K.

The Flamingo and its sister club, The Florida, became subsequently the home of the mod movement and the British R&B/Soul/Ska and Reggae scenes. It was via the Flamingo that such stars as Georgie Fame, Zoot Money, Chris Farlowe, Geno Washington and Desmond Dekker came to fame. The club also hosted visits by such American artists as Wilson Pickett, Ben E. King, Patti La Belle, Lee Dorsey, Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Edwin Starr, Bo Diddley, Ike and Tina Turner, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Lee Hooker, and Jimi Hendrix.

Via the early evening sets and the so called all-nighter sets such then fledgling groups as then up-and-comers like Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Elton John and an organist named Peter Bardens kept turning up, too, though he seemed to bring a different group with him each time. He first appeared there with The Cheynes, who played Jimmy Reed songs and had Mick Fleetwood on drums. Then he appeared with Them, the Irish group, whose singer was Van Morrison.

In 1966 he was back on our stage playing instrumentals with Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood, as The Peter B's, and later that same year they returned as Shotgun Express, with the powerful - voiced young Scot Rod Stewart as their lead singer.

When flower power and progressive rock came on the scene, Jeffrey furnished them a home too via The Temple (a club within the Flamingo set-up) showcasing the Moody Blues, Black Sabbath, The Who, Deep Purple, Mott the Hoople, Slade and Status Quo among many others.

Jeffrey formed the very first truly British independent record production and record distribution company, when in 1957 he formed Ember Records. An innovation in its day, he paved the way for the independent labels, independent distribution and promotion, fighting the monopoly that existed then of the five major labels that dominated the British industry at that period. He formed the first budget line and broke new ground in selling records outside of established record stores.

Though his Ember label, and more recently Bulldog Records and his current TKO Records, Jeffrey has given a British debut outlet to countless classic recordings by James Brown; B. B. King; King Curtis, Ray Charles, Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James, Charles Aznavour and Jimi Hendrix, and released many more stars including Glen Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Gene Pitney, Waylon Jennings, Erroll Garner, Tony Martin, The Isley Bros, Frank Sinatra, Eric Burdon, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, John Barry, Woody Herman, Neil Sedaka, and Ember, even prior to the Beatles' success in the U.S., hit the top of the American charts with recordings by Chad and Jeremy, a rare feat in the early '60s. His music publishing companies handled the songs of many world famous composers of popular songs.

The film, video and television world has also felt Jeffrey's mark through his operation of one of Britain's most successful independent movie and video distribution companies. Jeffrey was among the very first to see a future in video and in the early '70s, started to record and film concerts he was promoting for the home video and television markets.

But it is in the field of concert promotion that Jeffrey Kruger and the TKO Music Group Ltd., have made the most dynamic impact, setting new standards in meticulous planning and presentation in the best interests of both artists and public. His love of black music gave him a chance to work with, and in many cases, develop the careers in Europe of s Gladys Knight & The Pips, Edwin Starr, Isaac Hayes, Dionne Warwick, Chi- Lites, The Stylistics, Freda Payne, The Supremes, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Barry White, Marvin Gaye, The Jacksons, The Temptations, Chuck Berry and Gloria Gaynor, among many others.

Country music has also been heavily promoted by TKO with Faron Young, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, Don Williams, Diana Trask, Roy Clark, Duane Eddy, George Hamilton IV, Johnny Russell, Barbara Fairchild, Jimmy C Newman and his Cajun Band, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs, Freddy Weller, Ronnie Milsap, Bobby Bare, Billie Jo Spears, Tom T. Hall, Kitty Wells, Charley Pride, Charlie Rich, Ronnie Milsap, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Glen Campbell and Kris Kristofferson.

Contemporary country or new country has also been introduced to British and European audiences by Jeffrey with Nanci Griffith, Dwight Yoakam, Steve Warriner, Leo Kotke, Dan Seals, and had it not been for a terrorist scare he would have been the first to present George Strait.

Among the roster in the pop field already promoted under the banner "Jeffrey S. Kruger presents" are Dame Vera Lynn, Billie Holiday, Jack Benny, George Burns, Glen Campbell, Liberace, Anne Murray, Helen Reddy, Al Martino, Vic Damone, Jimi Hendrix, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Blood Sweat and Tears, Sarah Vaughan, Billy Eckstine, David Gates, Seals and Crofts, Demis Roussos, Manitas de Plata; Josh White, Jerry Lewis, Abbe Lane, Trini Lopez, Pat Henry, Wayne Newton, War, Teresa Brewer, Buddy Greco, Marty Allen, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson and his Brothers, David Soul, Gloria Gaynor, Harlem Globetrotters, Tony Martin, Jack Jones, Frankie Laine, Julio Iglesias, Placido Domingo, Julia Migenes, Chuck Berry, Martha Graham Dance Company, Andy Williams, Bill Haley & the Comets, Pat Boone, Rudolf Nureyev, Barry White; the Stars of the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballets from Russia among many others.

For his services to music Jeffrey has twice been made an Honorary Citizen of the State of Tennessee by two different governors of Tennessee and also been given a lifetime citizenship in the State of Kansas as well as numerous merit and proclamations and letters of commendations from President Jimmy Carter for his contribution to music. Both the City of Los Angeles and the City of Beverly Hills have honoured him - the former with a proclamation and the latter by declaring "A Jeffrey Kruger Day" in his honor.

For his contributions to the independent British film industry, he is one of very few Englishmen to have been invited to join the very prestigious executive section of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science.

First industry job
A clerk with Columbia Pictures in London. I was then promoted to film salesman with Columbia Pictures with responsibility to promote the cartoon character Gerald McBoing Boing and sell Columbia Pictures serials like Superman and Batman.

Career highlight
Acting as host together with my wife René for HRH The Princess Margaret and Princess Alexandra on several Royal Gala Charity Events; having a private lunch with HRH The Prince Philip; invited to take tea with Prime Minister Harold Wilson; co- hosting a Gala evening with my son Howard for former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; and being invited to the White House by President Ronald Regan. And, of course, my honorary appointment as a Member of the British Empire by the Queen.

Career disappointment
When ill health forced my early semi-retirement in 1993 before fulfilling all my goals.

Greatest challenge
Letting go and watching my son Howard grasp the reins and not interfering.

Best business decision
To have left the security of the film business to be on my own and open the Flamingo jazz club in 1952 (then Europe's equivalent of New York's Birdland Club).

Worst business decision
Not to have signed the up-and-coming stars featured at the club as their manager or agent like Cream, Georgie Fame, Shotgun Express and their then-young blues singer Rod Stewart, John Mayahl's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, Cheynes (featuring Mick Fleetwood on drums), Eric Burdon and the Animals, Led Zeppelin and many others.

Best road advice to offer
It can be done - have confidence and go for it.

Most memorable industry experience(s)
Being honored to join the board of the Country Music Association; being invited to the White House following the city of Nashville and the state of Kentucky making me an honorary citizen for my services to country music; having a day named after me by the cities of Beverly Hills and Hollywood for my services to the entertainment business over a period of 25 years at the time.

What friends would be surprised to learn about you
I'm actually a pretty good jazz and classical pianist.

Industry mentor
Nick Sevano - former artist manager. Nick managed Jack Jones; Vic Damone; Alan Jones; Nelson Riddle (whom Nick introduced to Sinatra); David Rose (bandleader/arranger); Glen Campbell; Anne Murray; Mickey Rooney; Martha Raye; Al Martino; and was from the beginning with Hank Sanicola in Hoboken, the close associate of Frank Sinatra.

Industry pet peeve
Agents' short-term attempts to get "over the top" deals to satisfy clients and killing long-term relationships with promoters and venues.

Jeffrey can be reached at 305-937-7295 (U.S. winter residence); in the U.K.: 44-1273- 550088; e-mail: jkruger02@aol.com

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