Jerry lee lewis pioneered rock n roll music and might be the most interesting american rock icon in the history of the medium. He began playing the piano at age 9, copying the styles of preachers and black musicians. His own story is the killer s life as he lived it, and as he shared it over two years with our greatest bard of southern life. In 1943, elmo lewis mortgaged his farm to buy his talented son his own piano. His own story, is that the crowd was so excited that the police had to stop them from jumping on stage. Aug 01, 2019 jerry lee lewis is a pianoplaying rock n roll pioneer famous for his high energy stage presence and controversial life. As he looks back on six decades of music and what the future holds, lewis says hes grateful. From the beginning of his career in 1956, jerry lee lewis has lived a life as wild as his music. Jerry lee lewis reveals his life in new book his own story.
Jerry lee lewis his own story by rick bragg i have just finished reading this 500 page book by professor rick bragg. Fotos internationalgetty one afternoon near the end of it, i told him why i wanted to write his story. Jerry lee lewis liked sex, drugs and rock n roll before. Oct 19, 2014 jerry lee lewis performing on the television on midnight special, around 1975. Theres one legendary story about the time he played the grand. He talks to simon hattenstone about why his seventh wife is the love of his life, how he became known as.
In 1973 his and janes son jerry lee jr died in a car crash at just 19. Playing behind the killer, you wouldnt want to hit a wrong note. At that point, lewis kicked the piano stool back, sprinkled some gas out of a coke bottle onto the piano, lit it on fire, and continued playing great balls of fire. Jerry lee lewis wild one from jerry lee lewis and friends dvd. I discovered this information while reading the book jerry lee lewis his own story by rick bragg find a grave contributor anonymous.
Jerry lee lewis is a pianoplaying rock n roll pioneer famous for his high energy stage presence and controversial life. His own story, biographer rick bragg notes that the songs lewis was recording were of the kind they were starting to call hard country, not because it had a rock beat or crossed over into rock in a real way, but because it was more substantial than the cloying, overproduced mess out there on country radio. Pulitzer prizewinning author rick bragg has captured that story and crafted a classically southern tale of poverty, success, tragedy, violence, survival and the search for salvation. March 16, 1926 august 20, 2017 was an american comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian, dubbed as the king of comedy and the total filmmaker. That stir was nothing compared to the one his third marriage would cause, however. Lovelace with his 56 strat, backing jerry lee lewis in the 70s, and today with his james burton signature telecaster. His own story by pulitzer prizewinning writer rick bragg, also available today. Rich with lewis s own words, framed by bragg s richly atmospheric narrative, this is the last great untold rockandroll story, come to life on the page.
Nov 18, 2016 people thought it was cute, letting this boy sit in, and the piano player relinquished his old upright, rick bragg wrote in his biography jerry lee lewis. Listen to jerry lee lewis while cooking winebraised short. Musicians included james burton on lead guitar, buddy harman and andy paley on drums, and al. Dec 21, 2015 jerry lee lewis was a man of appetites. That time jerry lee lewis married myra gale brown, his. Myra williams, jerry lee lewis yearold bride, speaks out. Rich with lewiss own words, framed by braggs richly atmospheric narrative, this is the last great untold rockandroll story, come to life on the page. His writing, as well as his knowledge and understanding of the south and its people, greatly enhances the book. Braggs thick and entertaining book indicates that jerry lee, like many of us, has cause to hope the good lord grades on a generous curve. In october of 2014 the killer released his first ever biography with pulitzer prize winning author rick bragg.
His first day on earth was indicative of what was to. Dow jones, a news corp company news corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news. Jerry lee lewis performing on the television on midnight special, around 1975. Dec 26, 2014 braggs thick and entertaining book indicates that jerry lee, like many of us, has cause to hope the good lord grades on a generous curve. Musicians included james burton on lead guitar, buddy harman and andy paley on drums, and al anderson and kenny lovelace on guitar. Sep 27, 2017 jerry lewis last month of heart failure at the age of 91. Jerry lee lewis his own story came out to critical acclaim. Rick braggs conversations with jerry lee lewis form the backbone of the authors new book, jerry lee lewis. His second marriage had caused quite a stir when people realized it had taken place 23 days before his first divorce was final. Rich with lewis s own words, framed by bragg s richly atmospheric narrative, this is the last great untold rockandroll story, come to.
Jerry lee lewis was born on september 29, 1935, in ferriday, louisiana. Jerry lewis disinherited 5 of his kids, and heres why we know. Jerry lee lewis born september 29, 1935 is an american singersongwriter, musician, and pianist, often known by his nickname, the killer. He would call out a song, and id sit down and play it, says jerry lee. He signed with sun records and became a rockabilly star. Did jerry lee lewis set his pianos on fire onstage. Some of those songs would stay with himand in his stage showsfor a lifetime, like waiting for a train by jimmie rodgers, the story of a penniless man just trying to get home, but thrown off the train by a railroad bull. Jerry lee lewis what id say from jerry lee lewis and friends dvd eagle rock. Oct 27, 2014 jerry lee lewiss story is such a great one that it deserves to be told over and over, and it has been. Dec 07, 2014 in 1943, elmo lewis mortgaged his farm to buy his talented son his own piano. In 1957, 23yearold jerry lee lewis married myra gale brown.
Jerry lee lewis and wife shawn stevens lewis attend a pregrammy party at the biltmore hotel on february 23rd, 1983. Young blood is the 38th studio album by jerry lee lewis released in 1995. When he was 10 years old, lewis got a piano of his very own. He gave rock and roll its devils edge with hit records like great balls of fire. His own story is the best book on rock and roll i have ever read ron rash jerry lee lewis is a fascinating guy, a really opinionsplitting kinda legend, and this is his autobiography noel fielding, my life in suitcase five touring essentials nme. Fotos internationalgetty one afternoon near the end of. His own story, by rick bragg despite the title of jerry lee lewiss 2006 album last man standing, a few other survivors from rocks early days still remain. Jerry lewis last month of heart failure at the age of 91. Author rick bragg tells jerry lee lewis story in a way no one else can. I met him several times during his comeback years in the late 1960s and rick braggs account is true to the man.
Jerry lee lewis was born on september 29, 1935 into a very religious family. His family, though not very wealthy, sold their house when he was a child to get their son a piano. T he killer was in his bedroom, behind the door of iron bars, as sonny daniels. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or. His own story harper is to be celebrated and qualified for the same reason, his method. Jerry lee lewis, the aging rock legend, sits up in his bed in a darkened room with a loaded pistol on the nightstand and tells his life story to rick bragg, our finest chronicler of southern lives. Thanks to amazons excellent service the book arrived yesterday morning at 11am and it now 3pm on the following day and it has taken me almost every hour since to read it. Rock n rolls first wild man called the killer by his myriad fans liked a strong bass line and a rambunctious crowd, but he loved women. His own story harper, which follows the singer from an upbringing steeped in religion to wild nights on the road with the first heroes of rock and roll to. Aug 08, 2015 at nearly 80, jerry lee lewis has outlived his rivals and is preparing for his final tour. The story, according to the authorized biography, jerry lee lewis. Kenny lovelace has picked his guitar with jerry lee lewis for 47 years and counting, so he must be doing something right. The writer is a poet and sometimes i have to stop and marvel. His own story by rick bragg kindle edition by rick bragg.
Jerry lee lewis liked sex, drugs and rock n roll before it. Rick bragg on jerry lee lewis at 2014 miami book fair youtube. Elmo kidd lewis, jr 19291938 find a grave memorial. In 1958, lewis married his yearold cousin causing a record boycott but lewis continued performing. When you interview jerry lee lewis, you go into it assuming some questions. Rick bragg on jerry lee lewis at 2014 miami book fair. Oct 28, 2014 theres a whole lotta jerry lee lewis news goin on today. Jerry lee lewis great balls of fire from jerry lee lewis and friends dvd eagle rock. Its a busy time for lewis, who also is the subject of a new biography, jerry lee lewis. His own story is the killers life as he lived it, and as he shared it over two years with our greatest bard of southern life. His own story was researched while rick bragg spent the better part of two summers with jerry lee getting his complete life story in a oneonone conversation conducted mostly in the superstars bedroom.
Jerry lee lewiss story is such a great one that it deserves to be told over and over, and it has been. A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, lewis made his first. By the age of 10, jerry lee was sneaking into a local blues emporium called haneys big house he urged his cousin. Rich fahle interviews author rick bragg about his biography, jerry lee lewis. Theres a whole lotta jerry lee lewis news goin on today. Its by pulitzer prizewinning journalist rick bragg. The new jerry lee lewis biography is definitively undefinitive.
At nearly 80, jerry lee lewis has outlived his rivals and is preparing for his final tour. Jerry lee lewis, the pianopounding father of rock n roll, struggled with two great rivals throughout his life, says mick brown. His own story, an astoldto autobiography written by rick bragg. His own story at miami book fair international 2014.