Artist:Johnny Ace
Song:Pledging My Love
Album:Memorial Album
Today Johnny Ace is mostly known for the tragic & senseless way he died at age 25. But He was clearly very talented and likely would have had a long career in music. He was born John Alexander June 9, 1929 in Memphis. After serving in The Navy during World War II, he joined Adolph Duncan's band as a pianist and then moved to BB King's band. When King left Memphis for Los Angeles and vocalist Bobby Bland went into The Army, Alexander took over the band and renamed it The Beale Streeters. He signed with DJ Mattis' Duke label in 1952 and was renamed Johnny Ace. His smooth vocal style got him several hits over the next couple of years. Also, Peacock Records owner Don Robey acquired Duke. Ace was on tour performing at the City Auditorium in Houston Christmas Day 1954. Between sets and under the influence of angel dust, Ace supposedly started playing Russian Roulette. He aimed a .45 caliber revolver at his girlfriend and pulled the trigger. Then he did the same to her friend. Then he proceeded to point the gun at his own head, pulled the trigger and blew his brains out. Johnny Ace was dead at age 25. Big Mama Thornton witnessed this and said Ace was playing with the gun but was not playing Russian Roulette. It hardly matters. A great singer was dead at a young age. As tends to happen when a singer dies this way, it boosted his popularity. Pledging My Love was a #1 R & B hit in 1955 and was his biggest hit. Duke released Memorial Album in 1955 and it has been in print ever since. It has all his recordings. Obviously there is no video footage of Johnny Ace but here's a video biography set to Pledging My Love.
Johnny Ace
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