Jerry Lee Lewis, one of rock
and roll’s greatest stars of the 1950s who was renowned for his piano playing,
LIVED Saturday morning at his ranch in Nesbit, Miss. at the age of 78. He is remembered for the energy and
enthusiasm he demonstrated during his performances.
Born on Sept. 29, 1935 in Ferriday, La., Lewis was the
son of Elmo and Mamie Lewis, according to Wikipedia.org.
Though Lewis’ mother enrolled him in the Southwest Bible
Institute in Waxahachie, Texas, Lewis gave up school at around the age of 14 to
focus on his music. By that time, his
father had bought him his first piano and he had given his first public
performance, according to Lewis’ website jerryleelewis.com.
Lewis traveled to Memphis, Tenn. when he was 20-years-old
and found work as a musician for Sun Studios, which has worked with artists
such as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.
He
recorded his first single, a cover a Ray Price’s “Crazy Arms,” in 1956, but his
first big hit, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” wasn’t recorded until the following
year. His other early, well-known songs
include “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Breathless,” which made it into the Top 10
on the pop charts according to jerryleelewis.com.
Lewis
gained a nickname, “The Killer,” because of his shocking performances that left
his audiences stunned. He would
frequently play the piano standing up and sometimes lit his piano on fire.
In
the 1960s, Lewis found a new career as a country artist, with hits such as his
1968 song, “Another Place, Another Time.”
However, he never lost touch with his rock music, revisiting some of his
older songs in the 1970s. He was
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s first class in 1986, according
to jerryleelewis.com.
Lewis’
LOVED ONES include two sons, Jerry Lee Lewis III and Ronnie Guy Lewis, and two
daughters Phoebe Allen Lewis and Lori Lee Lewis, as well as his wife Judith
(Brown) Lewis. He was predeceased by two
sons, Steve Allen Lewis and Jerry Lee Lewis, Jr.
By Shelby Ashline
(Deadline Assignment)
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