By Mary Jane Farmer
Ace McNeely
Musicians, fans, family, and friends are grieving the death of Ryan “Ace” McNeely, who died Monday night in an Austin-area hospital following a tragic Sunday night accident.
Ace was known most recently for his bass work with the Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lasso band, winners of the 2009 Shiner Rising Star competition, and for his sound engineering work at City Tavern in downtown Dallas, where friends gathered later Monday in his honor. A memorial is being planned, and details will be released as they become available.
The band had been in Austin Saturday night with a CD release party, having just released the CD they earned as 2009 winners of the Shiner Rising Star competition. Staying with friends in Dripping Springs, which is west of Austin in the Texas Hill Country, Ace reportedly fell off a 30-foot high cliff while taking an evening walk with several others. They heard him yell as he fell, said Hays County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Leroy Opiela. They called 911. That was around 10:30 p.m., Opiela said.
The North Hays County Fire Department’s rescue squad made the descent and retrieved Ace from below. San Marcos/Hays EMS called Star Flite air ambulance, which made a short flight to Brackenridge Hospital, where he remained until his death at 6 p.m. Monday, Opiela said.
Although just a few days shy of his 31st birthday and younger than most people who make their mark, Ace impacted the music world with his talent, his sincere charm, and the caring way he treated all those who met him.
Information obtained online says that Ace began playing guitar when he was five years old and at age 13 was playing bass and drums also. He had been a member of several bands in the Houston and Denton areas before joining up with Grant Jones, Miles Penhall, and Rob “The Heartthrob” Schumacher as The Pistol Grip Lassos. Since winning Rising Star last year, Rob has moved on to other endeavors and David Fiegelman joined the band.
Ace also taught at Zounds Sounds, teaching guitar, bass, drums, and music theory. He was trained at the Houston Community College for Audio Recording and at the University of North Texas.
Ace’s presence will be missed as the three bands vying for the 2010 Shiner Rising Star contest play at his home base, City Tavern, Thursday night. Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos are scheduled to play there Saturday night, and right now it’s unknown if that is still on the schedule.