{{Short description|American soul musical group}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ace Spectrum | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = | alias = | origin = New York City, New York, U.S. | instrument = | genre = {{flatlist| *Soul *R&B *disco }} | occupation = | years_active = 1966–76 | label = Atlantic | website = | current_members = | past_members = Rudy Gay<br />Elliot Isaac<br />Aubrey Johnson<br />Henry Zant }}
'''Ace Spectrum''' was an American R&B, soul and disco musical group that was popular in the mid-1970s.
==History== Based in New York City,<ref name="Pop">{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |title=Top Pop Singles 1955–1999|year=2000 |publisher=Record Research, Inc. |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |isbn=0-89820-139-X |page=5}}</ref> the group consisted of Rudy Gay Sr., Elliot Isaac, Henry "Easy" Zant, Aubrey "Troy" Johnson, and, on their final album, Frederick G. Duff and Lawrence Coley.<ref name="Ace Spectrum Artist Biography">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ace-spectrum-mn0000591977/biography |title= Ace Spectrum Artist Biography |last1=Wynn |first1=Ron |website=Allmusic |access-date=23 February 2014}}</ref> Zant, also known as Edward "Easy" Zant, was not only a member but he also managed the group.<ref name=bb1074>{{cite news |title=New on the Charts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQcEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Ace+Spectrum%22&pg=PA38|newspaper=Billboard |date=October 12, 1974|page=38 |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> Gay, Isaac, Zant and Johnson began collaboration as a group in 1966.<ref name=bb1074 /> "Don't Send Nobody Else", written by Ashford & Simpson,<ref name=bb1074 /> was their biggest single. From their Tony Silvester-produced<ref>{{cite news |title=New on the Charts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gwEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Ace+Spectrum%22&pg=PT15|newspaper=Billboard |date=January 11, 1975|page=16 |access-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> debut album, it peaked at number 57 on Billboard's Hot 100<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |title=Pop Memories 1890–1954 |year=1986 |publisher=Record Research, Inc. |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |isbn=0-89820-083-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/5 5] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/5 }}</ref> while finding its way to the top 20 on the R&B Singles chart. Their single "Keep Holdin' On" was released as a 12-inch single, and heavily promoted by their record label at disco clubs.<ref>{{cite news |title='Hijack' Inspires Strong Atlantic Disco Promotion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SCgEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Ace+Spectrum%22&pg=PA22|newspaper=Billboard |date=September 6, 1975|pages=4, 22 |access-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> Another single "Live and Learn" with lead vocals by Frederick, reached position 35 on the Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. Their first two albums saw chart action. ''Inner Spectrum'' attained position 28 on the R&B Albums chart, and ''Low Rent Rendezvous'' saw action on the ''Billboard'' Top LPs & Tape chart (#138),<ref name=whitburn>The Billboard Albums, 6th ed. Joel Whitburn. 2006. Record Research Inc. p. 20. {{ISBN|0-89820-166-7}}</ref> as well as on R&B Albums (#35).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ace-spectrum-mn0000591977/awards |title= Ace Spectrum Artist Awards |website=Allmusic |access-date=23 February 2014}}</ref> Patrick Adams produced and arranged the group's 1976 recordings, but further success eluded them.<ref>{{cite news |title=New York Beat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VcADAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Ace+Spectrum%22&pg=PA56|newspaper=Jet |date=March 11, 1976|page=56 |publisher = Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |year=1979 |title=none |journal=Black Music & Jazz Review |publisher=IPC Specialist & Professional Press |volume=1 |issue=10 |pages=27 }}</ref>
==Style and influence== Ace Spectrum never developed into a huge hitmaker, although Allmusic considers it a "decent soul ensemble."<ref name="Ace Spectrum Artist Biography"/> Their recordings have generated considerable interest among Northern Soul collectors.<ref>{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Chuck |year=2011 |title=Warman's American Records |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V570VDDxVNAC&q=%22Ace+Spectrum%22&pg=PA120 |publisher=Krause Publications |isbn=9781440228216 |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> The 1975 release "Keep Holding On" was one of the first 12-inch singles.<ref>{{cite book |last=Shapiro |first=Peter |year=2006 |title=Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GG1jtWGU0S8C&q=%22Ace+Spectrum%22 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780865479524 |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> Musically, the group employed a mix of up-tempo and down-tempo songs. The group eschewed the "high-voice technique" that was common for the era. Backing strings were important to the group's sound. Billboard commented positively about group, stating it deserved "as much exposure as possible." Rudy Gay Sr., a member of Iota Phi Theta fraternity, later went on to both father the famous basketball player and become music director for The Stylistics.<ref name=bb0474>{{cite news |title=Top Album Picks - Soul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dQkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Ace+Spectrum%22&pg=PA52|newspaper=Billboard |date=April 20, 1974|page=52 |access-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref>
==Discography==
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing other relevant details |- ! rowspan="2"| Single ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Label ! colspan="3"| Chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" |- ! US <br/> Pop<br/><ref name="Pop" /> ! US<br/>R&B<br/><ref name="R&B">{{Cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnpres00whit/page/4/mode/2up?q=spectrum |title=Joel Whitburn presents top R & B singles, 1942-1999 |date=1998 |publisher=Record Research |isbn=0898201365 |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisc. |pages=4 |access-date=April 20, 2026}}</ref> ! US <br /> Dance<br/><ref name=":02222">''Billboard'' Dance/club top songs, chart. 1976.</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Don't Send Nobody Else" <br/> b/w "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" | 1974 ! scope="row"| Atlantic 3012<ref name=gold>{{cite book |last=Popoff |first=Martin |year=2010 |title=Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948–1991 |publisher=Krause Publications |isbn=9781440216213}}</ref> | 57 | 20 | — | ''Inner Spectrum'' |- ! scope="row"| "Trust Me" <br/> b/w "I Just Want to Spend the Night With You" | rowspan="2"| 1975 ! scope="row"| Atlantic 3281<ref name=gold /> | — | — | — | rowspan="2"| ''Low Rent Rendezvous'' |- ! scope="row"| "Keep Holding On" <br/> b/w "Without You" ! scope="row"| Atlantic 3296<ref name=gold /> | — | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Live and Learn" <br/> b/w "Just Like in the Movies" | 1976 ! scope="row"| Atlantic 3353<ref name=gold /> | — | — | 35 | ''Just Like in the Movies'' |- |}
===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, showing all relevant details ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:20em;" | Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:20em;" | Album details ! colspan="2" |Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:2em;font-size:90%;" | US <br /> Pop<br /><ref name="alsoincludespop" /> ! scope="col" style="width:2em;font-size:90%;" | US <br /> R&B<br /><ref name="alsoincludespop">{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Top R & B albums, 1965-1998 |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstoprnb00whit/page/2/mode/2up |date=1999 |publisher=Record Research |page=2| ISBN= 0898201349}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |''Inner Spectrum''<ref name=gold /> | * Released: 1974 * Label: Atlantic * Formats: LP, vinyl, CD * Catalogue number: SD 7299 |209 |28 |- ! scope="row" |''Low Rent Rendezvous''<ref name=gold /> | * Released: 1975 * Label: Atlantic * Formats: LP, vinyl, CD * Catalogue number: SD 18143 |138 |35 |- ! scope="row" |'' Just Like in the Movies''<ref name=gold /> | * Released: 1976 * Label: Atlantic * Formats: LP, vinyl, CD * Catalogue number: SD 18185 |— |— |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:African-American musical groups Category:American soul musical groups Category:American rhythm and blues musical groups Category:Musical groups from New York City Category:Musical groups established in 1966 Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Musical quartets from New York (state)