Ace Records (3)

American record label focusing on the music of New Orleans. Also appears as Ace only. For unofficial releases, see Ace Records (19). Founded in 1955 by John Vincent, the label was based out of Jackson, Mississippi, but most of Ace's recordings were made at Cosimo Recording Studio in New Orleans. In 1962, Ace singed a five-year distribution deal with Vee Jay Records in Chicago. Vee Jay collapsed in 1965, leading shortly after to the demise of Ace. Vincent reactivated the label in 1971, producing reissues and some new recordings, as well as licensing reissues to Ace in the UK, before ultimately selling the label to UK re-issues specialist Westside/Music Collection International Ltd. in 1997. Ace released AJ Collins 'I Got The Blues For You' as the first Ace record. The label's first success came with Huey "Piano" Smith, and this followed by Joe Tex and Frankie Ford, whose hit 'Sea Cruise' was produced by Vincent. Dr. John, the leader of New Orleans music for four decades, began his career with Ace Records, when he organized, played on and produced sessions as Mac Rebennack. He remembers that many of the musicians had to threaten Vincent to get their money: 'They had to pull a gun to get paid, and this wasn't for their royalties'.