Johnny Ace Auditorium in Houston, Texas, on Christmas Day 1954. During a break between sets, he was playing with a .32-caliber revolver. Members of his band said he did this often, sometimes shooting at roadside signs from their car. It was widely reported that Ace killed himself playing Russian roulette. However, Big Mama Thornton's bass player, Curtis Tillman, who witnessed the event, said, "I will tell you exactly what happened! Johnny Ace had been drinking and he had this little pistol he was waving around the table and someone said ‘Be careful with that thing…’ and he said ‘It’s okay! Gun’s not
Marvin & Johnny separate ways that year, but Marvin did not let the Marvin & Johnny name die. Jesse Belvin had received his discharge from the U.S. Army by this time and he rejoined Phillips. In July 1956, Phillips and Belvin broke up again as Phillips began a solo career billed as Long Tall Marvin. Aladdin Records released "My Dear My Darling" in September 1956 and credited it to Marvin & Johnny. In May 1958, an old Marvin & Johnny recording of "Yak Yak" b/w "Pretty Eyes" was released on Aladdin. George Carlin performed "Cherry Pie" following a monologue on the Gladys Knight