Buddy Ace
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
November 11, 1936
Buddy Ace | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jimmie Lee Land November 11, 1936 Jasper, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 25, 1994 (aged 58) Waco, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Texas blues |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | Early 1950s–1994 |
| Labels | Duke |
Jimmie Lee Land (November 11, 1936 – December 25, 1994),[1][2] better known as Buddy Ace, was an American Texas blues singer, billed as the "Silver Fox of the Blues".
Born in Jasper, Texas,[3] he was raised in Baytown near Houston, and began his career by singing gospel in a group that included Joe Tex.[4] He joined up with other blues singers, Bobby "Blue" Bland and Junior Parker, before signing to Duke/Peacock Records in 1955 and agreeing to be credited as "Buddy Ace", a name previously used by the late Johnny Ace's brother, St. Clair Alexander.[4]
He recorded a string of singles for the Duke label between 1956 and 1969.[5] His hits included "Nothing in the World Can Hurt Me (Except You)", which reached number 25 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1966. His second and last hit in the R&B chart was in the following year, "Hold On (To This Old Fool)", which made number 33.[6] His other well-known tracks included "Love of Mine", "Root Doctor" and "Pouring Water on a Drowning Man" (all from Don't Hurt No More).[3]
In the late 1960s, he moved to California, living in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Sacramento, and continuing to perform live shows.[7] He also continued to record, for Paula, Evejim, and several smaller labels.[5] He billed himself as the "Silver Fox of the Blues" after his hair turned all white in his forties.[4]
Buddy Ace died of a heart attack aged 58, while performing in Waco, Texas, early on Christmas Day, 1994.[2]
