Buddy Ace

Buddy Ace
Birth name	Jimmie Lee Land
Born	(1936-11-11)November 11, 1936 Jasper, Texas, U.S.
Died	December 25, 1994(1994-12-25) (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".

Biography

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 "Root Doctor" and "Pouring Water on a Drowning Man".[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 "The Silver Fox of the Blues" after his hair turned 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]

Selected discography

Singles

• "Screaming Please" / "What Can I Do" Duke 346
• "True Love Money Can't Buy" / "My Love" Duke 381
• "It's Gonna Be Me" / "Nothing in the World Can Hurt Me (Except You)" Duke 397
• "Love Of Mine" / "Don't Hurt No More" Blues-B-Us 2016

Albums

• Don't Hurt Me No More – Evejim Records 2018 (1994) Also issued under title Root Doctor
• Buddy Ace, Silver Fox – Evejim Records 2040 (1994)
• From Me To You – Evejim Records 2048 (1995)
• The Real Thing – Jewel 5054 (1996)

Bibliography

• Encyclopedia of The Blues. Edition 2006, Edward Komara. Routledge, ISBN 0-415-92700-5[8]

References

1. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues – A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 316. ISBN 978-0313344237.
2. Jim Sherman (January 12, 1995). "Buddy Ace Moves On". Houston Press. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
3. Rock, Doc. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1994 – 1995". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
4. "Land, Jimmy Lee [Buddy Ace]". Texas State Historical Association. n.d. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
5. "Buddy Ace". Soulfulkindamusic.net. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
6. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 4.
7. "Buddy Ace – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
8. "Routledge Music Online". Routledgeonline.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.