An Iconic Rock Music Pioneer Has Passed Away
Jerry Lee Lewis, the Rock 'n Roll pioneer, has died at the age of 87.
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Jerry Lee Lewis, a rock ‘n roll pioneer whose scandalous, wild life earned him the nickname “The Killer,” has died at the age of 87. The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer passed at his Mississippi home, just south of Memphis, with his wife at his side, according to NBC News. His high-energy performances are legendary, and his music has been immortalized in films like Top Gun and in a film about his life, Great Balls of Fire, released in 1989.
The musician had been in poor health for years, and on Wednesday, TMZ erroneously reported that he had died, saying they were duped by someone impersonating the singer’s publicist.
Born in Ferriday, Louisiana in 1935, Lewis taught himself to play the piano at the age of nine, and was already performing in public as a teenager. His career hit its zenith in the 1950s, although he never eclipsed the popularity of Elvis Presley. Like Elvis, he signed with Sun Records in Memphis, scoring hits like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Breathless.”
He patterned his rockabilly music after black musicians he admired, and infused it with what he described as a live performance like a Southern preacher. His cousin, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, was not a fan of his music.
His career, however, was marred by scandals and personal setbacks due to his personal behavior. In 1958, he married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, who was also the daughter of his bass player. He also hadn’t finalized the divorce to his last wife at the time.
The marriage earned him boycotts, and he was shunned for years, even though he still recorded music. Many radio stations, however, refused to play his music. When Myra divorced him several years later, she accused him of physical abuse.
Much of his wild past was forgotten in later years, as his contributions to rock music earned him iconic status. He shifted into country music in the 1970s and began to earn acclaim once again. By the 1980s he was considered a legend, particularly after his song “Great Balls of Fire” was featured in a memorable scene in Top Gun, with Tom Cruise singing.
The 1989 biopic, which starred Dennis Quaid as Lewis and Winona Ryder as Myra, also helped rehabilitate his image, even though it wasn’t well received by critics.
He continued to produce music, including a 2006 album called Last Man Standing, which featured duets with Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger. His last album, Rock & Roll Time, was released in 2014 and hit #33 on the Billboard Rock Chart. He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 48th Grammy Awards in 2005.
In 1986, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with Elvis and Chuck Berry. In 2010 the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet was based around a recording session that included himself, Elvis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. In 2022, Ethan Cohen released a documentary about Lewis’ life and career called Trouble In Mind.
