Wally Houser
We are very sad to announce the death of an old friend of the club, Wally Houser. For more than 40 years Wally was lawyer and consigliore to Ronnie Scott and Peter King. His association with Ronnie Scott's club dates from his negotiation of the original lease for the Gerrard Street club to the sad day he was called to identify Ronnie's body, following the latter's death in 1996.
Wally got to know every jazz giant who played at the club over the period. He was particularly fond of Blossom Dearie - "she was a nuisance, but I loved her" - and had a fund of hilarious stories about her and other legendary names. He was also a useful alto player - which is how he originally met Scott - and for many years played in the rehearsal band led by Stan Reynolds as well as sitting in at local gigs. And he was a very nice bloke. Jim Trimmer
