Alexis Korner

Alexis Korner was born in Paris in 1928 and grew up in France and England. He got into American blues through recordings by artists like Lead Belly and Robert Johnson, and by the mid-1950s he was playing skiffle clubs in London.

In 1962 he formed Blues Incorporated as a loose collective of musicians who shared his interest in blues. The band played regular gigs at the Marquee Club in Soho, and its revolving membership included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Jack Bruce before they went on to other projects.

Blues Incorporated released only a handful of recordings during its existence. The band's fluid lineup and lack of a steady record deal meant it never achieved much commercial success, but it served as an important early meeting point for musicians who would shape British rock and blues in the 1960s.