In the days that followed, the press wrote about Ace’s death. Broadcast in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, the day after Christmas, Johnny’s death was heart-wrenching. Having been booked through the winter holidays and the months that followed, his band and Evelyn Johnson, his booking agent, had to move forward and cancel all future shows. To her surprise, many of the venues asked Evelyn to send the band, regardless of whether or not Johnny was going to be there.
The Band’s Reaction After Johnny’s Death
Cutting himself down at the height of his popularity playing Russian Roulette backstage during a winter holiday show, Johnny died in between sets during his show at Christmas time, 1954. Since his friends and band members were distraught after his death, they didn’t want to or feel like playing music.
Friends and Family’s Reaction to Johnny Otis’ Death
Johnny Borg was on stage at the time of Ace’s death, playing the piano. He and BB King had a similar opinion about Johnny Ace - he had guts, but that you shouldn’t dare Johnny to do something dangerous because he would do it.
After his death, one of his friends commented that Johnny Ace the man was dead, and Johnny Ace the Legend was just born.
Press Coverage of Johnny Ace’s Death
Although the black press and the New York Times covered Johnny’s death, the white press wouldn’t mention him or his death in the papers. The New York Times on December 26th stated, “A Memphis Tennessee Band leader was shot to death playing Russian Roulette last night, while holding a pretty girl on his lap, during a dressing room party.”
The police noted that John Alexander, 26 years old, leader and featured singer of the Johnny Ace band, died at the height of a Christmas Night dance in the city auditorium. It wasn’t clear that John Alexander and Ace were the same people, as the report focused on the fact that he died playing Russian Roulette.
Listen in to discover why Johnny’s music wasn’t listened to outside of his core market, how the southern white press affected his music career, how the white press and black press differed in their storytelling of Ace’s death, and why his funeral was delayed a week.
Postscript
Covering popular American music, The Silver Jews and David Berman, who recently passed away, will be missed as an icon of American Music. He was a songwriter and lyricist, held in high esteem for the lyrics he wrote during his career. Having recently released the album Purple Mountains, David, and his band were about to go on tour to promote the new record when he passed away. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
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