Jerry Lee Lewis, a legend of rock and roll, has passed away. A confirmation from TMZ.
Lewis, perhaps the last true, great icon of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, whose marriage of blues, gospel, country, honky-tonk, and raw, pounding stage performances so threatened a young Elvis Presley that it made him cry, has died,” read a statement released by the singer’s team on Friday.
One of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll on the piano, Jerry Lee was an icon. fame with his first single “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” in 1957.
Read More: Pam Grier Discusses Blaxploitation, Criticism, and The Horse that Helped Save Her Life.
A true showman, Jerry Lee would sometimes set fire to his piano as an explosive finale to his performances. His performances were so devastating that he earned the moniker “The Killer.”
Jerry Lee, who was born in Ferriday, Louisiana, started playing the piano at the age of nine. When Jerry Lee was 10, his father took out a mortgage on the family farm to buy him a piano, and when he was 14, he gave his first public performance at a nearby car dealership.
JL dropped out of school to devote himself to the piano, and he eventually found himself in Memphis, where he signed with Sun Studios that same year. associating musically with stars such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash before launching his own career to fame.
Great Balls of Fire was Jerry Lee’s second single. First released in December 1957, it has since become a cultural touchstone thanks to its inclusion in films like Top Gun and its sequel.
Read More: Jerry Springer (the Masked Singer Beetle) Unmasked Interview: when I Sing Everyone Get Interested
Great Balls of Fire!, starring Dennis Quaid as Jerry, is based on his life.
Jerry Lee was the first artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and he continued to perform at major venues well into his 80s.
In 2013, Lewis opened Jerry Lee Lewis’ Café & Honky Tonk on Memphis’s legendary Beale Street.
This year marked his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, but he missed the ceremony due to a bout with the flu. For Jerry, Kris Kristofferson accepted the honor and personally delivered it to his home.
