John Henry "Ace" Cannon (May 5, 1934 – December 6, 2018) was an American tenor and alto saxophonist. He played and toured with Hi Records stablemate Bill Black's Combo, and started a solo career with his record "Tuff" in 1961, using the Black combo as his backing group. "Tuff" hit #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1962, and the follow-up single "Blues (Stay Away from Me)" hit #36 that same year. In April 1965, he released Ace Cannon Live (HL 12025); according to the liner notes by Nick Pesce the album was recorded in front of a live audience inside Hi's recording studio, and Pesce claims this was the first time such an album had ever been recorded (as opposed to previous live albums recorded in concert venues).
Cannon was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000. In May 2007, his hometown of Calhoun City, Mississippi, hosted its first annual Ace Cannon Festival, and on December 9, 2008, he was honored with induction into the Mississippi Musicians' Hall of Fame.
After years of traveling and entertaining fans the world over, he moved back to Calhoun City in the late 1980s, where he resided until his death. He played numerous dates each year, and would be found most days working on his golf game at his home course.
He died at his home on December 6, 2018, at the age of 84.
Selected discography
Albums
1962 - Tuff-Sax (US Hot Albums #24) 1964 - Plays the Great Show Tunes 1964 - Aces Hi 1964 - The Moanin' Sax of Ace Cannon 1964 - Christmas Cheers from Ace Cannon (US Hot Albums #44) 1965 - Live 1966 - Sweet & Tuff 1967 - Incomparable Sax of Ace Cannon 1967 - Memphis Golden Hits 1967 - The Misty Sax of Ace Cannon 1968 - Ace Cannon And His Alto Sax In The Spotlight 1969 - Ace of Sax 1969 - The Happy And Mello Sax Of Ace Cannon 1970 - Cool 'n Saxy 1971 - Blowing Wild 1972 - Cannon Country - Ace, That is! 1973 - Country Comfort 1973 - Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me 1974 - That Music City Feeling 1975 - Super Sax Country Style 1975 - Sunday Blues 1976 - Peace In The Valley 1977 - Moody Sax From Memphis 1977 - Sax Man 1978 - After Hours 1979 - Feeling Old Feelings 1980 - Golden Classics 1980 - At His Best 1981 - The Entertainer 1981 - Saxy Sounds Of Ace Cannon 1982 - The Golden Sax Of Ace 1982 - Volume Two 1983 - A Holiday with Ace 1984 - Ace Cannon And Al Hirt – All-Time Country Greats 1984 - A Christmas Mood 1984 - Ace In The Hole 1986 - Best Loved Favorites 1987 - For The Good Times 1987 - Ace Cannon, Al Hirt – Help Me Make It Through The Night 1992 - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain 1993 - Sweet Dreams 1993 - Music For Lovers
unknown - Beautiful Sax
unknown - Afternoon Delight
unknown - Lyin' Eyes
Singles
A Peaked at #3 on US R&B charts
B Peaked at #73 on US Country Singles
References
External links
Discography
Ace Cannon Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2012)