- Johnny Ace Trivia: The son of a circuit-riding Baptist preacher and sometime laborer, Johnny Ace was born John Marshall Alexander, Jr. in Memphis on June 9, 1929.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: Johnny's father forbade him from listening to or playing secular music.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: He was dishonorably discharged from the Navy after sneaking out to play piano in local bars.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: Prior to launching his solo career, Johnny played in the bands of Adolph Duncan (pianist) and B. B. King.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: In 1952 he made his first single, "My Song", topping the R&B chart for nine weeks in September.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: In 1952 and 1954 he had eight hits in a row, including "Cross My Heart", "Please Forgive Me", "The Clock", "Yes, Baby", "Saving My Love for You" and "Never Let Me Go".
- Johnny Ace Trivia: In December 1954 he was named the Most Programmed Artist of 1954 according to the results of a national poll of disc jockeys conducted by the U.S. trade weekly Cash Box.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: The road became Ace's only real home. By 1954 he was performing a grueling schedule of about 350 concerts a year.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: Quoted in the Houston Chronicle, a member of Ace's band recalled that "Johnny's idea of fun was driving his Oldsmobile 90 miles per hour, his pistol in his hand, shooting out the zeros on the roadside speed-limit signs.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: One of the first tragedies of Rock and Roll, just as Johnny was primed to take his place in rock and roll's early mid-50s pantheon, he accidentally shot himself with a pistol backstage at a concert in Houston.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: An eyewitness, said, "He had been drinking and had this little pistol he was waving around... someone said "Be careful with that thing…" ...
- ... he said "It’s okay! Gun’s not loaded… see?" and pointed it at himself with a smile on his face and "Bang!"
- Johnny Ace Trivia: "Pledging My Love" was a posthumous R&B #1 hit for ten weeks beginning February 12, 1955. His single recordings were released as The Johnny Ace Memorial Album.
- Johnny Ace Trivia: Paul Simon famously wrote a tribute song, "The Late Great Johnny Ace", linking memories of his death with John Lennon's.
