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 - Editado por Music Manager el 13 nov. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete Duke Recordings
R&B - Editado por Hip-O Select el 1 ene. 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All the Best
Country - Editado por Vintage Jukebox el 10 ene. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1951-1954
Blues - Editado por Classics Blues & Rhythm Series el 4 ago. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pledging My Love - No Money
Blues - Editado por Tampete el 17 dic. 1954
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Best of Johnny Ace
Soul - Editado por Vintage Jukebox el 3 dic. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Masters
Rock - Editado por Burning Fire el 22 ene. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ace's Wild! The Complete Solo Sides and Sessions
Blues - Editado por Fantastic Voyage el 17 jul. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R&B Originals - My Song
Soul - Editado por AP Music el 21 may. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Listen My Shuffle (Remastered) (Johnny Ace)
R&B - Editado por Underground Inside Records el 8 jul. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Pledge My Love To You
Blues - Editado por Reminisce Music el 29 may. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Christmas Holidays (Fantastic Relaxing Songs) (Remastered)
Pop - Editado por Underground Inside Records el 1 dic. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Me Myself and My Songs (Remastered)
R&B - Editado por Underground Inside Records el 24 jun. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Happy Heaven (Remastered)
R&B - Editado por Underground Inside Records el 11 mar. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Memorial Album for Johnny Ace
R&B - Editado por Milestones Records el 9 abr. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Memorial Album For Johnny Ace
Soul - Editado por PnR el 1 ene. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo