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
Johnny Ace the Wires Ring", on his 2000 albbum "Guarapero/Lost Blues 2". Dave Alvin's 2011 album, "Eleven Eleven", contains the song "Johnny Ace Is Dead", about Ace's death. The Squirrel Nut Zippers' Christmas album, "Christmas Caravan", contains the song "A Johnny Ace Christmas", a love song about Ace killing himself on Christmas. Original singles, all issued simultaneously on 78- and 45-rpm discs by Duke Records One split single, issued on 78- and 45-rpm discs by Flair Records Studio albums and compilations containing only or mostly recordings by Ace Johnny Ace John Marshall Alexander Jr. (June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954), known