Johnny Ace: Pledging My Love
Harry Rosenblatt
Jim Colegrove
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> This was SO great - but a tragic end. Who has any info on him??
From "Rock On" by Norm N. Nite: Johnny Marshall Alexander, born June 9, 1929, Memphis,
died December 25, 1954, Houston. Began career as a singer after serving in the Navy
during WWII. Played piano in Memphis with a band led by Adolph Duncan. The band's
vocalist at the time was 19 year old Robert Calvin Bland (Bobby Blue Bland).
In 1952 recorded for Don Robey's Duke Records. (Duke was a Memphis label that Robey
purchased. He also owned Peacock). Recorded "Pledging My Love" in 1954. On Christmas
Eve of that year, while on a promotional tour of concerts, Johnny was playing Russian
roulette backstage at the City Auditorium in Houston and accidently shot himself. He
died the next day and his song went on to become one of the top hits of 1955.
--
Jim Colegrove
co...@dfw.net
Sid Leake, Sr.
harry...@ecsu.campus.mci.net says...
>
>This was SO great - but a tragic end. Who has any info on him??
Johnny Ace was big when I was in my early teens in Houston. He had lots
of hit songs on the 2 R&B stations, KCOH and KYOK. Fabulous disk
jockeys, King Bee, Dizzy Lizzy, The Great Montague, Daddy Deep Throat.
Johnny Ace had good songs like "The Clock", "Saving My Love For You".
Dude came to Houston in '55 or '56, got ruint on something while
performing at a R&B Review at the old Houston Auditorium, was back stage
showing off, started playing Russian Roulette, thought he was bulletproof
and BANG. His Clock stopped. Dirty shame, the brother could really sing
good ballads.
Later, El Sid
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