Johnny Ace - Saving My Love For You

Johnny Ace (June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954), born John Marshall Alexander, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, scored a string of hit singles in the 1950s before dying of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. This record was released in 1954 before his untimely death on Christmas of that year while fooling around with a loaded .22 pistol backstage between sets at the City Auditorium in Houston, Texas.

Vido Musso - Roseland Boogie

Vido William Musso (17 January 1913 – 9 January 1982) was an Italian-born jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist and bandleader born in Carini, Sicily, best-known for his many contributions to the big bands of Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman.

His family moved to the United States in 1920. He began on clarinet before switching to tenor sax. He is most associated with Stan Kenton who he first worked with in 1930. He reached his peak of notoriety with Kenton from 1945 to 1947. Perhaps his most notable work with the Kenton orchestra was his "Come Back to Sorrento". Musso died 9 January 1982 in Rancho Mirage, California.

Roseland Boogie also features a young Maynard Ferguson on horn.

Sonny Thompson - Real Real Fine Pts 1 & 2

Another Real Real Fine release from the legendary King label. 
Sonny Thompson (August 22, 1916 – August 11, 1989) was an American R&B bandleader and pianist, popular in the 1940s and 1950s.
Born Alfonso Thompson in Centreville, Mississippi, he began recording in 1946, and in 1948 achieved two #1 R&B chart hits on the Miracle label – "Long Gone (Parts I and II)" and "Late Freight", both featuring saxophonist Eddie Chamblee. The follow-ups "Blue Dreams" and "Still Gone" were smaller hits.
By 1952 he had moved on to King Records. There, he had further R&B Top 10 successes with the singer Lula Reed, the biggest hit being "I'll Drown in My Tears" (Thompson married Reed sometime in the early 1950's). He continued to work as a session musician, and to perform with Reed into the early 1960s. He also had success as a songwriter, often co-writing with blues guitarist, Freddie King.
Thompson died in 1989 in Chicago, at the age of 72.

Elmore James & His Broomdusters - Please Find My baby

Elmore James (January 27, 1918 – May 24, 1963) was an American blues guitarist, singer, song writer andband leader. He was known as The King of the Slide Guitar and had a unique guitar style, noted for his use of loud amplification and his stirring voice. This 78 on the Flair label was released in 1953.

Rockin’ Brothers Orchestra - Play Boy Hop

I don't know too much about these guys or this release. I think it's from around 1956. It's a great instrumental baritone sax number with real boogie flavor.

Peppy Prince - The Honky Tonky

Peppy Prince was the drummer in Joe Liggins' Honeydrippers band. Here he is in a rare solo effort, released on Hollywood Records in 1954. I am not 100% sure, but he may be accompanied here by Christine Chatman's orchestra.

Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters - Bip Bam

We'll finish off this week's tribute to Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters with my personal favorite song by them. The backing vocals are what really make this one swing for me.

Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters - Honey Love

Continuing with the McPhatter/Honey theme, we have "Honey Love", released in June of 1954. When I was little, I thought that the singer was a woman due to his higher pitched voice.

Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters - Money Honey

"Money Honey", written by Jesse Stone, was released in September 1953 by Clyde McPhatter backed for the first time by the newly formed Drifters. McPhatter's voice, but not his name, had become well-known as the lead singer for Billy Ward and the Dominoes and the song was an immediate hit and remained on the rhythm and blues charts for 23 weeks, peaking at number one. Rolling Stone ranked it #252 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.