b. John Marshall Alexander, Jr., 9 June 1929;
Memphis, TN
d. 25 December 1954; Houston, TX
Ace served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and
returned to Memphis in 1946 to perform with several
groups, including the B. B. King and the Beale Street
Boys group. After King and Bobby Bland left the
group, Ace renamed the group the Beale Streeters.
He joined the Duke label in 1952 and scored a #1
hit with his first release, ‘‘My Song.’’ Following
releases were hits as well: ‘‘Cross My Heart,’’ ‘‘The
Clock,’’ ‘‘Never Let Me Go,’’ ‘‘Please Forgive Me,’’
and ‘‘Saving My Love for You.’’
Ace died tragically at the age of twenty-five. His
death was attributed to Russian Roulette, despite
widely circulated rumors of murder and career manipulation, and came at the peak of his career. That
year, he had been voted most programmed artist of
the year by a Cashbox magazine poll.
Following his death, his career culminated with the
release of ‘‘Pledging My Love.’’ It is an anthem to
love and youthful angst; its success was fueled partially by the mystique surrounding his tragically young
death and its soulful rendition of what would turn out
to be an R&B standard.
Unfortunately, few recordings exist for Ace. In his
brief career, virtually everything was released in the
months following his death. The limited amount of
material does not, however, diminish his role as an
essential troubadour of this phase of R&B music in
America.
TOM FISHER
Bibliography
Salem, James M. The Late Great Johnny Ace. UrbanaChampaign: University of Illinois Press, 1984.
Discography
My Song (1952, Duke-102).
Anymore (1955, Duke-136).
Johnny Ace Memorial Album (1955, Duke LP-70).
Memorial Album for Johnny Ace (1957, Duke DLP-71).
Johnny Ace Memorial Album (1974, Duke X-71).