Ace Cannon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other persons of the same name, see John Cannon.

John "Ace" Cannon (born 5 May 1934 in Grenada, Mississippi) is an American saxophonist. He played and toured with Hi Records stablemate Bill Black’s Combo, continuing and leading the group after Black's death, having also started a solo career with his record "Tuff" in 1961. "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.^[1] 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 both the Rock and Soul Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000.^[2]

After years of travelling and entertaining fans the world over, he moved back to Calhoun City in the late 1980s and currently resides there today. He stil plays numerous dates each year, and can be found most days working on his golf game at his home course.

In May of 2007, his hometown honored this music legend by hosting its first annual Ace Cannon Festival.