Johnny Ace, December 1954

   On Friday, December 24, 1954, while playing Russian roulette backstage at the City Auditorium in Houston, Texas, Johnny Ace accidentally shoots himself. He dies the next day at the age of 25, making him the first fatality of the rock 'n' roll era. His song "Pledging My Love" goes on to become one of the big hits of early 1955.

  wikipedia_Johnny Ace   discogs_com Johnny Ace   Pledging My Love

   December 25, 1954 - Rock 'n' roll suffers its first tragedy as one of its biggest stars Johnny Ace accidentally shoots and kills himself playing Russian Roulette backstage at a Houston Auditorium in between shows on Christmas Night. 

PITTSBURGH COURIER, January 15, 1955: FINAL NOTE - 

Members of the Johnny Ace band leave Memphis' Clayborn Temple 

A.M.E. Church with the body of their deceased leader.

Johnny Ace's funeral

twitter_com