The fine Southern author Rick Bragg has written an excellent book about The Killer himself Jerry Lee Lewis. And if you are in any way interested in the history of Rock’n’Roll and its early beginnings and development, then this book is simply a must. Rick Bragg interviewed Jerry Lee Lewis for 2 years about his colorful and tumultuous life.
Jerry Lee Lewis was born to dirt poor but loving parents. He grew up in Ferriday, Louisiana and Natchez, Mississippi. Both his mother and father were fond of music, and he was immersed in the world of music from a very early age. Already as a child, Jerry Lee snuck into the black venue Haney’s Big House, where he hid under the tables. He was thrown out every time, but the next night he was there again. He loved the music of the blacks.
He learned to play the piano at an early age in the local church, which resulted in his father saving up for a piano for him. Jerry Lee practiced non-stop and soon learned to play all the genres that his mother and he listened to on the radio and what he heard at Haney’s Big House. Soon Jerry Lee Lewis’ provocative and wild way of playing the piano became a hit in the local community and his popularity spread quickly. However, there were many who considered his way of playing to be the devil’s music.
When Jerry Lee Lewis came under the wings of the famous Sam Phillips of Sun Studios and recorded Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On and Great Balls of Fire, his career really took off. Not only did he sell tons of records, but his raucous and wild concerts caused the young audience to go beserk. Scores of organizers subsequently boycotted him.
However, it wasn’t just Jerry Lee Lewis’ musical career that was tumultuous. So was his private life. He was already married at the age of 16, and at the age of 17 he was married for the second time, without having divorced his first wife. But when he married his 13-year-old cousin his career nosedived. However, Jerry Lee Lewis worked his way back, as always. Despite 7 marriages, many years of abuse of alcohol, pills, women and two near-death experiences plus a huge tax debt, the Killer survived.
Jerry Lee Lewis is regarded today as one of the most creative and important artists in American popular culture. Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the greatest of the first rock’n’roll pioneers, along with Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Chuck Berry. He performed with everyone from Elvis Presley to Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen and Kid Rock.
When John Lennon met Jerry Lee Lewis, he knelt and kissed the Killer’s shoes in reverence and gratitude for the enormous musical inspiration Jerry Lee had had on John Lennon’s own career.
The book Jerry Lewis: His Own Story is Jerry Lee Lewis’ own detailed and colorful version of his life. The book is highly recommended.
We lost Jerry Lee Lewis in 2022.
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