Johnny Ace
The senseless death of young pianist Johnny Ace while indulging in a round of Russian roulette backstage at Houston's City Auditorium on Christmas Day of 1954 tends to overshadow his relatively brief but illustrious recording career on Duke Records. That's a pity, for Ace's gentle, plaintive vocal balladry deserves reverence on its own merit, not because of the scandalous fallout resulting from his tragic demise.
John Marshall Alexander was a member in good standing of the Beale Streeters, a loosely knit crew of Memphis young bloods that variously included B.B. King, Bobby Bland, and Earl Forest. Signing with local DJ Mattis' fledgling Duke logo in 1952, the re-christened Ace hit the top of the R&B charts his very first time out with the mellow ballad "My Song." From then on, Ace could do no musical wrong, racking up hit after hit for Duke in the same smooth, urbane style. "Cross My Heart," "The Clock," "Saving My Love for You," "Please Forgive Me," and "Never Let Me Go" all dented the uppermost reaches of the charts. And then, with one fatal gunshot, all that talent was lost forever (weepy tribute records quickly emerged by Frankie Ervin, Johnny Fuller, Varetta Dillard, and the Five Wings).
Ace scored his biggest hit of all posthumously. His haunting "Pledging My Love" (cut with Johnny Otis & His Orchestra in support) remained atop Billboard's R&B lists for ten weeks in early 1955. One further hit, "Anymore," exhausted Duke's stockpile of Ace masters, so they tried to clone the late pianist's success by recruiting Johnny's younger brother (St. Clair Alexander) to record as Buddy Ace. When that didn't work out, Duke boss Don Robey took singer Jimmy Lee Land, renamed him Buddy Ace, and recorded him all the way into the late '60s.
© Bill Dahl /TiVo
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Pledging My Love (Billboard Hot 100 - No 17)
R&B - Paru chez Music Manager le 13 nov. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete Duke Recordings
R&B - Paru chez Hip-O Select le 1 janv. 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All the Best
Country - Paru chez Vintage Jukebox le 10 janv. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1951-1954
Blues - Paru chez Classics Blues & Rhythm Series le 4 août 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pledging My Love - No Money
Blues - Paru chez Tampete le 17 déc. 1954
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Best of Johnny Ace
Soul - Paru chez Vintage Jukebox le 3 déc. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Masters
Rock - Paru chez Burning Fire le 22 janv. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ace's Wild! The Complete Solo Sides and Sessions
Blues - Paru chez Fantastic Voyage le 17 juil. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R&B Originals - My Song
Soul - Paru chez Ap music le 21 mai 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Listen My Shuffle (Remastered) (Johnny Ace)
R&B - Paru chez Underground Inside Records le 8 juil. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Pledge My Love To You
Blues - Paru chez Reminisce Music le 29 mai 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Christmas Holidays (Fantastic Relaxing Songs) (Remastered)
Pop - Paru chez Underground Inside Records le 1 déc. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Me Myself and My Songs (Remastered)
R&B - Paru chez Underground Inside Records le 24 juin 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Happy Heaven (Remastered)
R&B - Paru chez Underground Inside Records le 11 mars 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Memorial Album for Johnny Ace
R&B - Paru chez Milestones Records le 9 avr. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Memorial Album For Johnny Ace
Soul - Paru chez PnR le 1 janv. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo