Died On This Date (December 25, 1954) Johnny Ace / ’50s R&B Star
themusicsover Johnny Ace (Born John Alexander)
June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954
Johnny Ace was a popular R&B singer during the early ’50s. Ace became a professional musician after he served in the Korean War. His first gig of prominence came when he joined B.B. King’s band. After King and band mate Bobby “Blue” Bland, left the group, Ace took over lead vocals and changed the name to the Beale Streeters. He landed a record deal in 1952 and released a handful of R&B hits including “My Song,” “Cross My Heart,” “Pledging My Love,” and “Never Let Me Go.” On Christmas Day, 1954, Johnny Ace, age 25, died of a self-inflicted gun wound. It has been wrongly reported that Ace was playing Russian Roulette, when in fact, according to witnesses such as Big Mama Thornton, he shot himself accidentally while basically showing off after a concert.
What You Should Own
Tony Bellamy is best remembered as the one-time lead guitarist for the Native American rock band, Redbone. Formed in 1969, the band achieved its most success during the early ’70s. In 1974 they scored their biggest hit single with “Come and Get Your Love,” which reached the top 5 on the Billboard singles chart. Prior to his days with Redbone, Bellamy played with Dobie Gray and the pre-Moby Grape band, Peter and the Wolves. He left Redbone in 1977 and went on to form his own group, Bimbam. He reunited with Redbone for special events in later years. Tony Bellamy was 69 when he died of liver failure on Christmas Day, 2009. 
Billy Hill was a Songwriter Hall of Fame tunesmith who penned several hits throughout the ’30s. Born in the Boston, Hill studied music and played the violin and piano, eventually earning a living at it as part of dance bands. His first hit as a songwriter came with 1933’s “The Last Roundup,” which made that year’s The Hit Parade and lead to him becoming one of Tin Pan Alley’s most successful writers. His most well-known first came to prominence in 1936. “The Glory Of Love” was made into a hit that year by 
Tim Hart is best remembered as a founding member of British electric folk band, Steeleye Span, who released a handful of moderately successful albums while Hart was in the group between 1970 and 1982. He played guitar and sang for the band while writing some of their more traditional sounding songs. In later years, Hart released a handful of solo releases included two children’s albums. In late 2008, he was diagnosed with lung cancer which caused his death on December 24, 2009. Tim Hart was 61 years old when he died.