The first single issued by singer, pianist Johnny Ace (Alexander) was "My Song" (D. James) in 1952. Backed by The Beale Streeters the recording topped the R&B chart. It is widely thought that the writer was actually Duke Records owner David James Mattis. Wikipedia "It was widely reported that Ace killed himself playing Russian roulette. However, Big Mama Thornton's bass player, Curtis Tillman, who witnessed the event, said, "I will tell you exactly what happened! Johnny Ace had been drinking and he had this little pistol he was waving around the table and someone said ‘Be careful with that thing…’ and he said ‘It’s okay! Gun’s not loaded… see?’ and pointed it at himself with a smile on his face and ‘Bang!’ — sad, sad thing. Big Mama ran out of the dressing room yelling ‘Johnny Ace just killed himself!" This happened when Johnny was just twenty-five years.

A cover of "My Song" (D. J. Mattis - L. Alexander) was the B side to "See Saw" and released by the late singer, pianist and songwriter Aretha Franklin in 1968. This time the song peaked at number ten R&B while peaking at number thirty-one on the Top One Hundred for The Queen Of Soul. This is from the LP "The Atlantic Singles".