Black Ace
Source: Reina Salt's Night Blues
Born in Hughes Springs, Texas, 21 December 1905, Black Ace (Babe Kyro Lemon Turner) traveled the juke joints of eastern Texas with Andrew Smokey Hogg and Oscar Buddy Woods in the early thirties. He first recorded on April 26, 1936, in Fort Worth, Texas, two unissued tracks for ARC (American Record Corporation): 'Bonus Man Blues' and 'Black Ace Blues'. Come six of his compositions for Decca on February 15 the next year: 'Black Ace', 'Trifling Woman', 'You Gonna Need My Help Some Day', 'Whiskey and Women', 'Christmas Time Blues', 'Lowing Heifer'. Thought to have been accompanied by Hogg, those were issued as Decca 7281, 7340 and 7387. Though he may have been accompanied by Hogg, Wirz at American Music doesn't have Hogg in session for anything until three days later in Dallas on 18 February.
'Trifling Woman' Black Ace
15 Feb 1937 in Dallas TX Matrix 61789-A Decca 7281
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
'Black Ace' Black Ace
15 Feb 1937 in Dallas TX Matrix 61790-A Decca 7281
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
'You Gonna Need My Help Some Day' Black Ace
15 Feb 1937 in Dallas TX Matrix 61791-A Decca 7340
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
'Christmas Time Blues' ('Beggin' Santa Claus') Black Ace
15 Feb 1937 in Dallas TX Matrix 61793-A Decca 7387
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
'Lowing Heifer' Black Ace
15 Feb 1937 in Dallas TX Matrix 61794-A Decca 7387
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
It was also 1937 when Ace began his own radio show on KFJZ in Fort Worth on which he played blues tunes until, so far as is known, 1941, the year he appeared in the film, 'The Blood of Jesus':
The Blood of Jesus' Black Ace Film 1941
Drafted into the army in 1943, Ace then quit the music business until he recorded an album in the summer of 1960 titled 'Black Ace' or 'BK Turner and His Steel Guitar' (Arhoolie F 1003). Titles in alphabetical order below were recorded by Chris Strachwitz and Paul Oliver in Fort Worth, Texas, on 14 August 1960. The album (final item) went down by the same on 14 August and 10 September 1960 in Fort Worth:
'Beer Drinking Woman' Black Ace
14 Aug 1960 in Fort Worth TX See Arhoolie F 1017
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
'Evil Woman' Black Ace
14 Aug 1960 in Fort Worth TX See Arhoolie F 1003 / Heritage HLP 1006 (UK 1962)
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
'Golden Slipper' Black Ace
14 Aug 1960 in Fort Worth TX See Arhoolie F 1003 / Heritage HLP 1006 (UK 1962)
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
'B.K. Turner and His Steel Guitar' Album by Black Ace
14 Aug / 10 Sep 1960 in Fort Worth TX
See Arhoolie F 1003 Also 'Black Ace' on Heritage HLP 1006 (UK 1962)
Composition: B.K. Turner (Black Ace)
Turner's revived interest in the blues lasted only a couple of years, his last performance in 1962 for a film documentary titled 'The Blues'. He died of cancer ten years later in Fort Worth on November 7, 1972.
Sources & References for Black Ace:
VF History (notes)
Associates Musical:
Andrew Smokey Hogg (1914-1960 / guitar / vocals):
American Music (sessions)
Discogs (catalog)
Oscar Buddy Woods (1903-1955 / guitar / vocals):
American Music (sessions)
Discogs (catalog)
Documentaries:
Black Ace (Chris Strachwitz / 1960 / with the 1941 film The Blood of Jesus)
Recordings: Albums:
BK Turner and His Steel Guitar (Arhoolie Records F 1003 / 1960)
Recordings: Catalogs: All Music Discogs RYM
Recordings: Compilations:
I'm The Boss Card In Your Hand (1937/60 / Arhoolie Records 374 / 1972)
Recordings: Sessions: Stefan Wirz (American Music / 1936/37/60)
Other Profiles: Lawless Luke
Classical Main Menu Modern Recording
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