Lewis, Jerry Lee (1935-2022), was one of the first stars of rock music. His 1957 recordings of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire” were early classics of rock ‘n’ roll. Lewis also became known for his rowdy performing style in concerts, especially his flamboyant piano playing. Lewis’s personal life aroused controversy and severely damaged his career.
Lewis was born in Ferriday, Louisiana, on Sept. 29, 1935. He taught himself to play the piano. His early musical influences came from country music, blues, and gospel songs. In 1956, Lewis traveled to Memphis to audition for the famous Sun Records recording company. His first recording was the country song “Crazy Arms” in 1956. Lewis’s recordings of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire” made him famous. He followed up those hits with “Breathless” and “High School Confidential” (both 1958).
In December 1957, the public learned that Lewis had married his 13-year-old cousin, his third wife. The news created a strong reaction against Lewis and led to cancellations of concerts and some boycotts of his music on radio. Lewis tried to keep his career alive by touring for the next 10 years. In 1968, he shifted from rock music to country music. His first country recording, “Another Place, Another Time” (1968), became a hit. Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. He performed successful concert tours in Europe in the late 1990’s and in the first decade of the 2000’s. In 2006, Lewis recorded Last Man Standing, an album of duets with famous rock, blues, and country performers. In 2010, his album Mean Old Man was released. Lewis released the album Rock & Roll Time in 2014. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Oct. 16, 2022. Lewis died on Oct. 28, 2022.
