British jazz legend Ronnie Scott joined the Johnny Claes band in 1944, before spells with Ted Heath and Bert Ambrose. By the late '40s he was a key figure in the London bop scene, playing at the Club Eleven, which he co-founded. During the '50s he was co-leader, with Tubby Hayes, of the Jazz Couriers and opened his own legendary club, subsequently dividing his time between leading his group and running the club. He also found time to play with the Clarke-Boland Big Band. In 1981, Scott was awarded an OBE in recognition of his services to music. Following a bout of depression he was found dead at his London flat in December 1996.