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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The Complete Duke Recordings
R&B - Lançado por Hip-O Select em 1 de jan. de 2004
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1951-1954
Blues - Lançado por Classics Blues & Rhythm Series em 4 de ago. de 2008
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Pledging My Love - No Money
Blues - Lançado por Tampete em 17 de dez. de 1954
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So Lonely
Blues - Lançado por Excess Music em 8 de abr. de 2020
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Collection 1952-55
Soul - Lançado por ACROBAT em 7 de mai. de 2021
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Essential Masters
Rock - Lançado por Burning Fire em 22 de jan. de 2008
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Ace's Wild! The Complete Solo Sides and Sessions
Blues - Lançado por Fantastic Voyage em 17 de jul. de 2012
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R&B Originals - My Song
Soul - Lançado por Ap Music em 21 de mai. de 2012
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Listen My Shuffle (Remastered) (Johnny Ace)
R&B - Lançado por Underground Inside Records em 8 de jul. de 2016
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Greatest Hits
Pop - Lançado por Vintage Jukebox em 20 de abr. de 2018
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My Song
Pop - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 13 de ago. de 2013
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Pledge My Love To You
Blues - Lançado por Reminisce Music em 29 de mai. de 2023
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The Best Of Christmas Holidays (Fantastic Relaxing Songs) (Remastered)
Pop - Lançado por Underground Inside Records em 1 de dez. de 2016
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Me Myself and My Songs (Remastered)
R&B - Lançado por Underground Inside Records em 24 de jun. de 2016
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My Happy Heaven (Remastered)
R&B - Lançado por Underground Inside Records em 11 de mar. de 2016
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Memorial Album for Johnny Ace
R&B - Lançado por Milestones Records em 9 de abr. de 2020
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Memorial Album For Johnny Ace
Soul - Lançado por PnR em 1 de jan. de 2000
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Wonderful Soundtrack (Remastered)
Jazz - Lançado por Almrec Muzik Remastered em 3 de jun. de 2016
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Looking for the Gold Masterpieces (Remastered)
R&B - Lançado por Almrec Muzik Remastered em 10 de jun. de 2016
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Pledging My Love (From "First Man" Original Soundtrack)
Musical Theatre - Lançado por M.Z.Records em 14 de dez. de 2018
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A Memorial To Johnny Ace
Soul - Lançado por PnR em 31 de mai. de 2008
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