# Ace Cannon

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

| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album |
| Year | Title | US | Album |
| 1961 | "Tuff" $^A$ | 17 | Tuff-Sax |
| 1962 | "Blues (Stay Away From Me)" | 36 | Tuff-Sax |
| 1962 | "Sugar Blues" | 92 | Singles only |
| 1962 | "Volare" | 107 | Looking Back With Ace Cannon |
| 1962 | "Rest / Big Shot" | | Singles only |
| 1963 | "Since I Met You Baby" | 130 | Singles only |
| 1963 | "Cotton Fields" | 67 | Aces Hi |
| 1963 | "Swanee River" | 103 | Aces Hi |
| 1964 | "Searchin'" | 84 | Aces Hi |
| 1964 | "Empty Arms" | 120 | Nashville Hits |
| 1965 | "Sea Cruise" | 135 | Singles only |
| 1966 | "Funny How Time Slips Away" | 102 | Sweet and Tuff |
| 1968 | "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" | 110 | Incomparable Sax |
| 1977 | "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" $^B$ | — | Peace In the Valley |
* $^A$ Peaked at #3 on US R&B charts
* $^B$ Peaked at #73 on US Country Singles