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 - Released by Music Manager on 13 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete Duke Recordings
R&B - Released by Hip-O Select on 1 Jan 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All the Best
Country - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 10 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1951-1954
Blues - Released by Classics Blues & Rhythm Series on 4 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pledging My Love - No Money
Blues - Released by Tampete on 17 Dec 1954
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Best of Johnny Ace
Soul - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 3 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Masters
Rock - Released by Burning Fire on 22 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ace's Wild! The Complete Solo Sides and Sessions
Blues - Released by Fantastic Voyage on 17 Jul 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R&B Originals - My Song
Soul - Released by Ap music on 21 May 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Listen My Shuffle (Remastered) (Johnny Ace)
R&B - Released by Underground Inside Records on 8 Jul 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Pledge My Love To You
Blues - Released by Reminisce Music on 29 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Christmas Holidays (Fantastic Relaxing Songs) (Remastered)
Pop - Released by Underground Inside Records on 1 Dec 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Me Myself and My Songs (Remastered)
R&B - Released by Underground Inside Records on 24 Jun 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Happy Heaven (Remastered)
R&B - Released by Underground Inside Records on 11 Mar 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Memorial Album for Johnny Ace
R&B - Released by Milestones Records on 9 Apr 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Memorial Album For Johnny Ace
Soul - Released by PnR on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo