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:: Big Shot ::

:: Tie Me To Your Apron Strings Again ::

Ace Cannon is one of the most recognizable sax stylists of the early rock & roll era, and is a Memphis studio legend. Born in Grenada, MS in 1934, he was hanging in Memphis during the early Sun Records days, cutting many a side there with all the early icons of rockabilly. In 1958, bassist Bill Black left Elvis' band over a pay dispute and formed the Bill Black Combo the following year with Cannon on lead sax.

Cannon started his solo career in '61 with the hit single, "Tuff". Mostly he recorded for the Hi label (same as Bill Black), but he cut a few singles for the Fernwood label, such as this one from 1964. Fernwood was founded by Johnny Cash's soon to be producer at Sun, Jack Clement, and truck driver/western swing band leader Slim Wallace, and was run out of a shack behind Wallace's suburban Memphis house. The label went belly up the year after this gem was issued.



Bill Black died of a brain tumor in 1965, at which point Ace returned to lead the band from that point forward. To this day, Cannon is blowing around the oldies circuit. You can catch him at the Pine Hills Country Club in Calhoun City, MS on June 16, or watch out for him when he hits your town!


Mike

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