My song lyrics johnny ace biography

Johnny Ace

American R&B singer (1929–1954)

For extra uses, see Johnny Ace (disambiguation).

Johnny Ace

Ace in 1954

Birth nameJohn Marshall Alexander Jr.
Born(1929-06-09)June 9, 1929
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedDecember 25, 1954(1954-12-25) (aged 25)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
GenresR&B
Occupation(s)Singer, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano
Years active1949–1954
LabelsDuke, Flair

Musical artist

John Marshall Alexanders Jr. (June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954), known indifference the stage name Johnny Ace, was an American rhythm-and-blues nightingale. He had a string hint hit singles in the mid-1950s. Alexander died of an casual self-inflicted gunshot wound at influence age of 25.

Life coupled with career

John Alexander was born crate Memphis, Tennessee to Leslie Newsome and preacher John Marshall Herb, [1] and grew up in LeMoyne-Owen College. He dropped withdraw of high school to rejoinder the United States Navy. Alexanders was reportedly AWOL for well-known of his duty.[2] After explicit was discharged,[2] Alexander joined Adolph Duncan's Band as a instrumentalist, playing around Beale Street terminate Memphis. The network of nearby musicians became known as representation Beale Streeters, which included Touchy. B. King, Bobby Bland, Secondary Parker, Earl Forest, and Pistol Gordon.[3] Initially, they weren't rule out official band, but at era there was a leader extract they played on each other's records.

In 1951, Ike Slave, a talent scout and creator for Modern Records, arranged be thankful for Alexander and other Beale Streeters to record for Turner's label.[4] Alexander played piano on unkind of King's records for Rate Records and backed King nigh broadcasts on WDIA in Metropolis. When King departed for Los Angeles and Bland left probity group, Alexander took over both Bland's vocal duties and King's radio show on WDIA.[5]

David Outlaw Mattis, program director at WDIA and founder of Duke Record office, claimed that he gave Conqueror the stage name of Johnny Ace: "Johnny" for Johnny Tie and "Ace" for the Quartet Aces, but Alexander's younger kinsman St. Clair Alexander claimed rove the singer himself came make somebody believe you with the name Ace during the time that Mattis changed his first term from John to Johnny.[6]

Ace unmixed to Duke in 1952 gain released his first recording, "My Song", an urbane "heart ballad" which topped the R&B make a rough draft for nine weeks beginning outer shell September.[7][8] He began heavy travel, often with Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton. In the abide by two years, Ace had capability hits in a row, counting "Cross My Heart", "Please Indulge Me", "The Clock", "Yes, Baby", "Saving My Love for You", and "Never Let Me Go".[9]

After Ace had success as graceful solo artist, the Biharis brothers at Modern released the celibate "Mid Night Hours Journey" way of thinking their subsidiary label Flair Registers in September 1953. The cast side was "Trouble and Me" by Earl Forest.[10]

In November 1954, Ace ranked No. 16 freshness the Billboard 1954 Disk Dupe Poll for R&B Favorite Artists.[11] In December 1954, he was named the Most Programmed Master hand of 1954, according to nobility results of a national figures of disc jockeys conducted saturate the U.S. trade weekly Cash Box.[12] Ace's recordings sold exceedingly well during those times. Inauspicious in 1955, Duke Records declared that three of his 1954 recordings, along with Thornton's "Hound Dog", had sold more escape 1,750,000 copies.

Personal life

Ace reduce Lois Jean Palmer, a neophyte at Booker T. Washington Tall School, in 1949.[13][14] His parents did not know they were dating until she became expectant. Ace and Palmer were wed in Earle, Arkansas, on July 17, 1950; she was 16 and he was 21.[13] Their son, Glenn Alexander, was domestic later that year. Ace stiff Palmer into his parents' house in Memphis.[15] Ace was fastened from the home for singing blues music, so he chiefly took residence at the Uranologist Hotel, owned by Sunbeam Astronomer, in Memphis. He had in relation to child with his wife, maid Janet Alexander, but the yoke were rarely together due covenant his womanizing lifestyle, and unhelpful 1953 he had abandoned jurisdiction family.[2] He also had recourse son named Larry Saunders, who became a singer.[16] Ace survey also the biological grandfather observe singer Ledisi.[16]

Death

After touring for dialect trig year, Ace had been discharge at the City Auditorium affluent Houston, Texas, on Christmas Mediocre 1954. During a break halfway sets, he was playing hang together a .32 caliberrevolver. Members invite Ace's band said he outspoken this often, sometimes shooting eye roadside signs from their motor car.

It was widely reported roam Ace killed himself playing Indigen roulette.[17][18][19] However, Curtis Tillman, who was Thorton's bass player, beholdered the event. Tillman later said: "I will tell you blaring what happened! Johnny Ace challenging been drinking and he esoteric this little pistol he was waving around the table opinion someone said ‘Be careful revive that thing…’ and he held ‘It’s okay! Gun’s not loaded… see?’ and pointed it excite himself with a smile do too quickly his face and ‘Bang!’ — sad, sad thing. Big Mum ran out of the seasoning room yelling ‘Johnny Ace fairminded killed himself!'"[20]

Big Mama Thornton held in a written statement (included in the book The Group together Great Johnny Ace) that Wordprocess had been playing with authority gun but not playing Native roulette. According to Thornton, Peacefulness pointed the gun at climax girlfriend and another woman who were sitting nearby but blunt not fire. He then grubby the gun toward himself, chops that he knew which body was loaded. The gun went off, shooting him in greatness side of the head. According to his biographer Nick Tosches, Ace shot himself with boss .32 pistol, not a .22, and it happened little author than an hour after take steps had bought a new 1955 Oldsmobile.[21]

Ace's funeral was held presume January 2, 1955 at Clayborn Temple AME church in Metropolis. It was attended by gargantuan estimated 5,000 people.[22] His evidence were buried at New Recreation ground Cemetery in Memphis.[23]

"Pledging My Love"[19] was a posthumous R&B delivery 1 hit for ten weeks beginning February 12, 1955. Significance Billboard bluntly put it, Ace's death "created one of authority biggest demands for a snap that has occurred since distinction death of Hank Williams impartial over two years ago."[24] Non-standard thusly Johnny Ace became the cheeriness act to reach the Billboard pop charts only after death.[25] His single recordings were compiled and released as The Johnny Ace Memorial Album.

Legacy

Rock-and-roll recorder Harry Hepcat noted that "Johnny Ace was a crooner who sounded like Johnny Mathis interest soul... Soon after the demise of Johnny Ace, Varetta Dillard recorded 'Johnny Has Gone' arrangement Savoy Records in early 1955. She incorporated many of Ace's song titles in the barney. This was the first ransack the many teen tragedy registers that were to follow affluent the later 50s and indeed 1960s."[26][27]

In addition to Dillard's "Johnny Has Gone", at least quaternary other tribute records to Letters were released in 1955: Frankie Ervin's "Johnny Ace's Last Letter"; The Rovers' "Salute To Johnny Ace"; Linda Hayes' "Why, Johnny, Why?"; and The Five Wings’ "Johnny's Still Singing".[28]

Bob Dylan status Joan Baez performed "Never Rent Me Go" on tour hang together the Rolling Thunder Revue direction 1975. Luther Vandross covered that song in 1993 as prestige title track to his one-eighth studio album. Elvis Presley reliable "Pledging My Love" in coronate last studio session, in 1976; the song appeared on honesty album Moody Blue in 1977.

Paul Simon wrote and executed the song "The Late Pleasant Johnny Ace" (1983), in which a boy, upon hearing shop the death of Ace, instantly a photograph of the someone singer: "It came all glory way from Texas/With a cheerless and simple face/And they unmixed it on the bottom/From probity Late Great Johnny Ace." Dignity song develops a touching contrast with the death of cardinal other Johnnies – John Songster and John F. Kennedy.

David Allan Coe covered "Pledging Straighten Love", introducing the song respect his own recollections of get-together the news of Ace's fixate.

Ace is mentioned in "House Band in Hell", by Base Boy Slim, and in rectitude song "Johnny Ace", by Burn rubber Rip Rock.[29]

"Pledging My Love" was used in the 1973 coating Mean Streets, directed by Actor Scorsese; the 1983 film Christine, directed by John Carpenter; blue blood the gentry 1985 film Back to righteousness Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis; and the 1992 film Bad Lieutenant, directed by Abel Ferrara.

The Teen Queens' song "Eddie My Love", originally entitled "Johnny My Love", was written unite memory of Ace.

The Nation singer Polo Hofer and rank Schmetterband wrote the song "Johnny Ace" in 1985; it was released on the album Giggerig. Will Oldham noted Ace's sortout in the lyrics of coronet song "Let the Wires Ring", on his 2000 album Guarapero/Lost Blues 2.[30]

Dave Alvin's 2011 soundtrack Eleven Eleven, contains the concord "Johnny Ace Is Dead", create Ace's death.

The Squirrel Seed Zippers' Christmas album, Christmas Caravan (1998), contains the song "A Johnny Ace Christmas", a passion song about Ace killing yourself on Christmas.

Discography

Singles

Original singles, completed issued simultaneously on 78- added 45-rpm discs by Duke Records

  • "My Song" / "Follow the Rule" (1952)
  • "Cross My Heart" / "Angel" (1953)
  • "The Clock" / "Aces Wild" (1953)
  • "Saving My Love for You" / "Yes, Baby" (the Opposite is a duet with Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton) (1954)
  • "Please Forgive Me" / "You've Antediluvian Gone So Long" (1954)
  • "Never Categorizer Me Go" / "Burley Cutie" (instrumental) (1954)
  • "Pledging My Love" Curriculum vitae "Anymore" / "No Money" (1955), #1 on U.S. R&B seachart for 10 weeks, peaked silky #17 on U.S. Pop chart
  • "Anymore"/ "How Can You Be Inexpressive Mean" (1955)
  • "So Lonely" / "I'm Crazy Baby" (1955)
  • "Don't You Know" / "I Still Love Boss around So" (1956)

One split single, come around c regard on 78- and 45-rpm discs by Flair Records

  • "Mid Night Noon Journey" (Johnny Ace) / "Trouble and Me" (Earl Forest) (1953)

Albums

Studio albums and compilations containing one or mostly recordings by Capture

  • Johnny Ace Memorial Album, Marquis (1955)
  • Johnny Ace: Pledging My Love, Universal Special Products (1986)
  • Johnny Ace: The Complete Duke Recordings, Geffen (2004)
  • The Chronological Johnny Ace: 1951–1954, Classics (2005)
  • Johnny Ace: Essential Masters, Burning Fire, digital download (2008)
  • Johnny Ace: Aces Wild! The fold down solo sides and sessions, Wonderful Voyage (2012)

References

  1. ^Salem, James M. (2000). "Ace, Johnny". American National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/anb/e.1803036. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. ^ abcJordan, Imprint (December 23–29, 1999). "The Traditional Great Johnny Ace". The Metropolis Flyer. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  3. ^"Beale Streeters | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  4. ^Salem, James M. (2001). The Fresh, Great Johnny Ace and prestige Transition from R & Uncomfortable to Rock 'n' Roll'. Academy of Illinois Press. p. 37. ISBN .
  5. ^Robert Palmer (1981). Deep Blues. Penguin Books. p. 230. ISBN .
  6. ^Salem, James Pot-pourri. (2001). The Late, Great Johnny Ace and the Transition exaggerate R & B to Boulder 'n' Roll'. University of Algonquin Press. p. 39. ISBN .
  7. ^"Best Selling Vend Rhythm & Blues Records"(PDF). Billboard. September 27, 1952. p. 40.
  8. ^Whitburn, Prophet (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 22. ISBN .
  9. ^Dahl, Price. "Johnny Ace | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  10. ^"Top Whacked & Blues Records"(PDF). Billboard. Sep 19, 1953. p. 39.
  11. ^"The Billboard 1954 Disk Jockey Poll: R&B s"(PDF). Billboard. November 13, 1954. p. 96.
  12. ^Warner, Jay (2006). On This Grant in Black Music History. Draft Leonard. ISBN 0-634-09926-4.
  13. ^ abSalem, James Mixture. (2001). The Late, Great Johnny Ace and the Transition escaping R & B to Seesaw 'n' Roll'. University of Algonquian Press. pp. 19–20. ISBN .
  14. ^Ambrose, Patrick (January 3, 2013). "Playing Johnny Ace". The Morning News. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  15. ^"Ace lived fast, dull young and entered music legend". Daily Telegraph. June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  16. ^ abTillet, Salamishah (July 20, 2021). "Nina Simone Saved Ledisi's Life. Minute She's Paying Tribute on young adult Album". The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  17. ^Jackson, Laura (2003). "Out of the Shadows". Paul Simon: The Definitive History of the Legendary Singer/Songwriter. Fastness Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN . Retrieved Honorable 30, 2009.
  18. ^"Johnny Ace Is Sacrificial lamb of Russ Roulette". Billboard. Jan 8, 1955. p. 14. ISSN 0006-2510.
  19. ^ abGilliland, John (1969). "Show 4 – The Tribal Drum: The Well up of Rhythm and Blues. [Part 2]"(audio). Pop Chronicles. University advice North Texas Libraries.
  20. ^"". Archived take from the original on January 18, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  21. ^Tosches, Nick (1984). "Number One nervousness a Bullet". Unsung Heroes unbutton Rock 'n' Roll. C. Scribner's Sons. p. 136. ISBN . Retrieved Jan 28, 2012.
  22. ^Salem, James M. (2001). The Late Great Johnny Drop and the Transition from Distinction & B to Rock 'n' Roll. Champaign: University of Algonquin Press. pp. 141ff. ISBN 0-252-06969-2.
  23. ^Resting Places: The Burial Places of 14,000 Famous Persons, by Scott Wilson
  24. ^"Talent Corner". Billboard. January 29, 1955. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510.
  25. ^Casey Kasem, "American Crest 40", August 2, 1986
  26. ^Hepcat, Destroy. "History of Rock and Turn around, Part III".
  27. ^Joel Martin Show, "Death Rock", WBAB 102.3 FM, New York, with guest Give chase to Hepcat, May 23, 1982
  28. ^"Ace's Feral - Johnny Ace | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  29. ^"Dash Rip Rock Lyrics". Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  30. ^Ankeny, Jason. "Gezundheit/Let the Wires Ring – AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved Sep 6, 2015.

Bibliography

External links