Johnny Ace:

[caption id="attachment_195" align="alignleft" width="300"] Image source: pastblues.com[/caption] John Marshall Alexander, Jr.( Born:June 9, 1929 ), was an American rhythm and blues singer. After touring for a year, Ace had been performing in Houston,on Christmas Day,1954. During a break between sets, he was playing with a .22 caliber revolver. Members of his band said he did this often, sometimes shooting at roadside signs from their car. It was reported later that Ace killed himself playing Russian roulette. Curtis Tillman, however, 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!". Ace was aged 25.