Ace was a British rock band that formed in 1972. The band consisted of members Paul Carrack (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Alan “Bam” King (guitar), Terry “Tex” Comer (bass), and Steve Witherington (drums).
Their debut album, Five-A-Side, was released in 1974 and featured the hit single “How Long,” which reached number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also became a hit in the UK, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart.
Ace released three more albums, including Time for Another in 1975, No Strings in 1977, and Ace in 1979. Although they never achieved the same level of success as they did with “How Long,” the band continued to tour and record throughout the 1970s.
Carrack left the band in 1977 to join the band Squeeze, and later went on to have a successful solo career. King and Comer continued to tour and record with various musicians under the name Ace until the mid-1980s.
In 1993, Carrack and King reunited to record a new version of “How Long” for the soundtrack of the film The Crying Game. The song became a hit again, reaching number 31 on the UK Singles Chart.
Ace’s music has been described as a mix of rock, pop, and soul, with Carrack’s distinctive vocals and keyboard playing being a key part of their sound. Despite their relatively short career, the band’s music has continued to be popular with fans of 1970s rock and pop.