James M. Salem research materials for The Late Great Johnny Ace
Collection
Identifier: MSS-2494
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of the research done by Dr. James M. Salem, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama, for his book, The Late Great Johnny Ace and the Transition from R and B to Rock and Roll. Materials include audio recordings, correspondence, research notes and documents, that relate not only to Johnny Ace specifically, but to the larger context of African American Popular Culture in the 1950s.
Included in the collection are various 33 1/3, 78, and 45 rpm records of Johnny Ace's hit songs. The most significant of these recordings is the 78 rpm single "Pledging My Love," which reached number one on the Billboard R and B charts, and number seventeen on the Billboard Pop charts in 1955.
Among the correspondence within the collection is that between Dr. Salem, Lois Jean Alexander (Ace's widow), and BMI. This correspondence established John Marshall Alexander, Jr. (Johnny Ace) posthumously as a registered writer for BMI.
Assorted interviews made by Dr. Salem within the collection, recorded on audio cassette, include Lois Jean Alexander, Evelyn Johnson, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and Johnny Otis.
Included in the collection are various 33 1/3, 78, and 45 rpm records of Johnny Ace's hit songs. The most significant of these recordings is the 78 rpm single "Pledging My Love," which reached number one on the Billboard R and B charts, and number seventeen on the Billboard Pop charts in 1955.
Among the correspondence within the collection is that between Dr. Salem, Lois Jean Alexander (Ace's widow), and BMI. This correspondence established John Marshall Alexander, Jr. (Johnny Ace) posthumously as a registered writer for BMI.
Assorted interviews made by Dr. Salem within the collection, recorded on audio cassette, include Lois Jean Alexander, Evelyn Johnson, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and Johnny Otis.
Dates
- 1929-2003
Biographical / Historical
Dr. James M. Salem is currently a Professor Emeritus in the American Studies Department at the University of Alabama. His research focus and specialty fields include the 1950s, Popular Music, African American Culture, American Drama, Youth Culture, Popular Culture, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock and Roll.
Source: UA AMS faculty web site, accessed August 2009.
Source: UA AMS faculty web site, accessed August 2009.
Extent
10 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
This collection consists of the research done by Dr. James M. Salem, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama, for his book, The Late Great Johnny Ace and the Transition from R and B to Rock and Roll. Materials include audio recordings, correspondence, research notes, and documents, all pertaining to the larger context of African American Popular Culture in the 1950s.
Physical Location
These materials are stored at our off-site Archival Facility (AF) and may require up to two business days for retrieval and delivery for use in our Hoole Library reading room. Please email archives@ua.edu or call 205-348-0500 for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of James M. Salem, 2008
General
To provide faster access to our materials, this finding aid was published without formal and final review. Email us at archives@ua.edu if you find mistakes or have suggestions to make this finding aid more useful for your research.
Processing Information
Processed by Emma Bertolaet, 2009
Source
- Salem, James M. (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the James M. Salem research materials for The Late Great Johnny Ace
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository