DThe legendary rock ‘n’ roll interpreter Jerry Lee Lewis is dead. The pianist known for the classic “Great Balls of Fire”, among other things, died today at the age of 87, as his agent announced.
Born in Ferriday, Louisiana, in 1935, Lewis is considered one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll. The blonde musician was a friend and at the same time a competitor of Elvis Presley. In his more than fifty-year career, Lewis not only created numerous hits. He made headlines on the tabloids with his erratic lifestyle, numerous marriages, binge drinking and tax disputes. “One is only hot or cold. If you are lukewarm, the Lord will spit you out,” was his maxim.
Jerry Lee Lewis came from a musical family. His father taught him to play the piano at an early age and supported him intensively in his later efforts to become a musician. For his ninth birthday, his parents bought him a grand piano for $900 and had to mortgage their house for it.
He played everything he heard
In his early years Lewis played everything he heard: country, blues, boogie, rhythm and blues. As a 15-year-old he earned his living with music, even if he only played for ten dollars, free food and drink in various pubs. He also sang in the local church choir. Lewis played in the school orchestra during the day and in nightclubs in the evenings.
In time: Jerry Lee Lewis at the piano, recorded at a concert in New York’s Madison Square Garden in March 1975.
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Image: dpa
In the years up to 1956 Lewis made his living as a bar pianist. That year, just as rock ‘n’ roll was becoming popular, Lewis auditioned a few tracks on Sam Phillips’ Sun Records. The single “Crazy Arms” came out, which was not yet a success, but indicated what Lewis’ profession was to become: rock ‘n’ roll. The producer Phillips, who also oversaw the early successes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, relied on Lewis.
“Crazy Arms” was followed by the hit “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” However, the song was not initially played on the radio because it seemed too vulgar to the broadcasters. In December of that year, Phillips organized a studio session with Presley, Perkins, Cash and Lewis, but Cash left before it began. The recordings later went down in history under the title “The Million Dollar Quartet”. In the spring of 1957, Lewis toured the southern states with Cash and Perkins. He made two television appearances on The Steve Allan Show, performed Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, and – broke through. The single sold more than six million copies in a short time.
But Lewis’ success was accompanied by an unsteady private life. He divorced a second time and married his cousin Myra Gale Brown, who was only 13 years old. In January 1958 Lewis landed his second big hit with “Great Balls Of Fire” and his third with “Breathless”. But now the youthful age of his new wife has become known. The church initiated a campaign, an England tour was almost completely cancelled. The producer Phillips saw the end for his musician coming. Lewis could hardly sell another record.
Jerry Lee Lewis at a concert in Hamburg’s Star Club in February 1980.
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Image: dpa
He still gave the “killer”
Lewis continued to produce, albeit with little success. In April 1962 he suffered the first stroke of fate: his three-year-old son drowned in the swimming pool at his house. Musically, new bands outstripped the old rock’n’roll stars. Lewis tried country. On – ever smaller – stages he still gave the Rock’n’Roller, the “Killer”, as he was nicknamed. In the music scene his reputation was unbroken. When Lewis and Beatles frontman John Lennon met in the early 1970s, Lennon knelt down to kiss Lewis’ feet and said to him, “You’re the man that made it possible for me to be a rock ‘n’ star To be roll music.” He was “just kind of frozen,” Lewis later said of the moment.
Over the next three decades, Lewis would reappear, produce a record, then disappear again, private tragedies thrown him back. Lewis’ eventful life was filmed in 1986, starring Dennis Quaid, under the title Great Balls of Fire. In 1986 Lewis was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, James Brown and Ray Charles. In the mid-1990s, Lewis resumed touring and filling the halls.
In 2006, a surprising new album was released, for which illustrious collaborators were found who paid tribute to him: Jimmy Page, BB King, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood, Neil Young, John Fogerty, Keith Richards, Rod Stewart, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and Little Richard – the list is not exhaustive. Before this late work was published, Lewis had been honored with a Grammy for lifetime achievement in February 2005. The album, aptly titled ‘Last Man Standing’, was released in October 2006 – 21 songs, mostly covers of guest performers’ tracks. Following production, Bruce Springsteen wrote, “Thank you for making my rock ‘n’ roller dream come true – for Jerry Lee Lewis to record one of my songs. This is the best version of one of my songs I’ve ever heard.”
Lewis has repeatedly stated that he fears he is going to hell because of his music. “I’ve always been concerned about whether I’ll end up in heaven or hell,” he told the Guardian in 2015. “I continue to worry at night before bed. It’s a very serious situation. Where do I end up after my last breath?” His fans will wish his fears were unfounded.
