This guy was a genius. Great voice and very chilled. I find his music quite depressing, I've never been able to work out whether it was just down to his music or because of the story of his sad death. His death seems in such contrast to they way he conducted himself on record.

From wiki:

After touring for a year, Ace had been performing at the City Auditorium in Houston, Texas on Christmas 1954. During a break between sets, under the influence of angel dust (PCP) Ace allegedly decided to play a game of Russian Roulette. He aimed a .45 caliber revolver at his girlfriend, Olivia Gibbs, and pulled the trigger. He then attempted to shoot her friend, Mary Carter. Both times, the hammer fell on an empty chamber. He then swiftly turned the gun on himself and ended his life.

Big Mama Thornton, a witness to the shooting, said in a written statement (included in the book The Late Great Johnny Ace) that Ace had been playing with the gun, but not playing Russian Roulette. According to Thornton, Ace pointed the gun at his girlfriend and another woman who were sitting nearby, but did not fire. He then pointed the gun toward himself. The gun went off, shooting him in the side of the head.

'Forever My Darling' - http://www.sendspace.com/file/3sdjny
'Cross My Heart' - http://www.sendspace.com/file/jayoq7

Thanks for bringing him up--I hadn't heard of him, even though evidently he was a major player on the R&B charts in the early '50s.

It just goes to show how R&B stars that never "cross over" can remain unjustifiably obscure on the other side of the line.

I suppose that if covers by Elvis and Janis Joplin hadn't revived Big Mama Thronton's career, she might be all but forgotten, too.

Did the links work? Id be happy to re-post...

The links don't work (I assume the expired) but I found "Pledging My Love," "No Money," "I'm Crazy Baby," "Never Let Me Go," "Saving My Love For You," and "Don't you Know" all on youtube.

Got any others?

The Clock - http://www.sendspace.com/file/nxuhbp
Cross My Heart - http://www.sendspace.com/file/trqtsl

Nice