June 6, 2015

JOHNNY ACE - 4/3 : Pledging My Love



Pledging My Love - 諾言? 悔言? 遺言?
成名後, 被熱捧的滋味卻感不安, 更常有怯場和失落感, 害怕站在台前面對觀眾歌迷, 寕願躲在鋼琴手之後。這現像對他的影響很大, 使他不自覺地引起逃避不安的情緒; 賴以酒精之外, 更携帶一枝小口徑手槍當自我沉迷的玩物。



YES, BABY - Duet with "Big Mama" Thornton


1954 年十二月, 和 Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton" 一起推廣新曲 "Hound Dog" 作巡迥演出, 休息時間的 Johnny, 衹顧忙於他的玩具: 點22口徑的手槍, 又在工作人員跟前作態發射, 捉弄為樂, 因而遷怒於 Thornton 而把手槍沒收; 幾天後, 把槍膛内的子彈退下, 才把手槍交還給他。

聖誕節當天, 在德州, 休斯頓 City Auditorium 演出, 在後台的 Johnny 手中拿着槍枝, 邊渴酒邊插科打諢, 在各人面前作狀開槍, 這時的 Johnny 還賴皮笑說: "不用怕, 槍膛沒有子彈的, 你們看看 ...?"

正當 Mama Thornton 跑上來對他喝停; 說時遲, 那時快, 他把槍口對着自己的頭顱發空槍來嚇唬别人 ...

一發子彈把衹有25歲的生命完結了;
"Pledging My Love"是否向妻兒的悔言和承諾? 但是, 卻成了他的遺言!


PLEDGING MY LOVE - Johnny Ace
Written by: Ferdinand Washington and Don Robey
Forever my darling our love will be true
Always and forever I'll love only you
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn

My heart's at your command dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire dear
Keeping you is my goal

I'll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I'll never part from you
And your loving ways

My heart's at your command dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire dear
Keeping you is my goal

I'll forever love you
For the rest of my days
I'll never part from you
And your loving ways

NEXT .... Memorial Album