100 Club
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|
| Location |
Oxford Street London, W1 |
|---|---|
| Public transit |
 Tottenham Court Road
|
| Capacity | 350 |
| Opened | 1942 |
| Website | |
| the100club.co.uk | |
The 100 Club is a music venue located at 100 Oxford Street, London, England. The club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942. Originally called the Feldman Swing Club, the name was changed to the 100 Club when the father of the current owner took over in 1964.
In 1942, the venue was a restaurant called "Macks", which was hired out beginning 24 October every Sunday evening by Robert Feldman at £4 per night to host a jazz club featuring swing music. The initial line-up of the Feldman Swing Club advertised in Melody Maker included Frank Weir, Tommy Pollard, Kenny Baker and Jimmy Skidmore, with guest artists the Feldman Trio, composed of Feldman's children, including the then eight-year-old child prodigy jazz drummer Victor Feldman.
The club was popular with working people and American GIs, who introduced jitterbug to the club, banned at most other music venues. Patrons included Glenn Miller, who auditioned young Victor Feldman, and the club hosted many top American jazz acts, including Mel Powell, Ray McKinley, Art Pepper, and Benny Goodman. Bebop as well as swing was featured. British musicians such as Ronnie Scott and Johnny Dankworth performed there. It became a mecca for black musicians from the British Empire, such as Frank Holder, Coleridge Goode and Ray Ellington.
The club was eventually taken over by Humphrey Lyttelton's manager and, during that period, Louis Armstrong appeared at the venue.
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