He gave Hank Williams credit for getting the white working man off his knees long enough to enjoy some music. American Idol Singer Apologizes to Katy Perry, Jerry Lee Lewis, 'Great Balls of Fire' Singer, Still Alive Despite TMZ Death Report, Bad Bunny Takes Jab at Harry Styles During Coachella, Chris Cornell's Widow Settles Legal Disputes With Soundgarden, Controversial HBO Show Finally Gets Premiere Date, Taylor Swift Hits Netflix's Top 10 But Not for the Movies You Think, Coachella Acrobat Suffers Serious Fall While Hanging Above Stage, E-40 Accuses Sacramento Kings' Security of 'Racial Bias' After Ejecting Him From Game, Julin Figueroa Found Dead at 27: Singer Was Son of Joan Sebastian and Maribel Guardia. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Joan Baez Sings with Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones, 8 Facts About Son of a Sinner Singer Jelly Roll, Selena Gomez Shares"Transformative" Lip Tint, 16 Musicians and Singers Named Knights or Dames, How Rina Sawayama Landed in John Wick: Chapter 4, Dolly Partons New Book: Inside Her Iconic Style, Niall Horan's Under-$30 Eye Care Must-Haves, Taylor Swift Has (Kind Of) Reunited The Civil Wars, 7 Musicians Who Are Connected to Bobby Caldwell, 10 Things You Might Not Know About Morgan Wallen. One of the most controversial and entertaining people to hit the stage was none other than rock legend, the KillerJerry Lee Lewis. She also described herself as the adult in the relationship with Lewis. A woman reminisced, "I ran into you in 1976 at the Sunset Gower Studios I'll never forget that moment. The wild man of rock & roll, Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29th, 1935) has had an incredible career for over six decades, bursting into fame, falling out of favour then returning the fore, creating one of the most eclectic and fascinating collections of recorded music. Within a little more than a decade, Lewis released 23 songs that became Top 10 hits on the Billboard country chart. Sun, which Mr. Lewis would leave in 1963, was reluctant to promote him. Mr. Lewis performing in 1989 at a party for the opening of the movie Great Balls of Fire!, which starred Dennis Quaid as Mr. Lewis. He divorced his sixth wife in the summer of 2005, after over 20 years of marriage. Lewis was also one of the first members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy. Only the Killer rocks on.. "How can the devil save souls?" We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! After cutting his first record, Mr. Lewis worked as a studio musician for the label. Not Hollywood, not L.A., not the country, At 19, he won a local school board seat. We've received your submission. The idea that the greatest names in rock should come to him struck him as perfectly natural. Lewis was born on Sept. 29, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana. But when Lewis was just eight years old, his father (who had served time in prison for bootlegging), took out a mortgage on the family farm to buy young Jerry a piano. Years of heavy drinking and drug abuse began to take their toll, however, and his life for much of the 1970s and 80s was a sad catalog of family catastrophes, health crises and run-ins with the I.R.S. Now Im older and wiser, and [not] malleable in the hands of others. Reporters discovered that the young girl traveling with him, Myra Gale Brown, was his 13-year-old bride and his cousin and that Mr. Lewis had still been married to his second wife when he recited the vows for his third marriage. In a statement the day his induction was announced, Mr. Lewis said, To be recognized by country music with their highest honor is a humbling experience. He added, I am appreciative of all those who have recognized that Jerry Lee Lewis music is country music and to our almighty God for his never-ending redeeming grace., Jerry Lee Lewis, a Rock n Roll Original, Dies at 87, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/28/arts/music/jerry-lee-lewis-dead.html. He was supposed to be living the life that he lived.". I find living is nice and calm this way.. Read article "He's alive . With so long between now and his last album, many people wonder if he is still thriving, alive, well, and performing his heart out. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. PREVIOUSLY: Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the last living architects of rock and roll, is still alive.TMZ previously reported that the "Great Balls of Fire" singer passed away at his home in Memphis after someone who claimed to be his representative told them he died.TMZ has since retracted its report.. Lewis' family announced last week that he was too ill to travel to Nashville for his induction . The press made me out to be a seductive Lolita, which was as far from the truth as it gets. At 2 PM on a recent Saturday in the sleepy suburb of La Mirada, California, he sure as hell wasn't acting like it. The following March, Lewis struck again with "Breathless," which made into the Top 10 of the pop charts. After All The Movies & Albums: How Much Is Elvis Presley Worth? Late in his career he often recorded with younger artists eager to work with one of rock n rolls founding fathers. Some records just got that certain something. "Jeff, what the hell is going on?" Even when Lewis returned to the States, he found that he got a less-than-warm welcome home. It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myras younger brother. His most recent concert was February 16, 2019, in Greenville, S.C. Watch the full set; Lewis joined . The revelation resulted in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis tour; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped overnight. Radio stations refused to play his songs, and Lewis had a hard time lining up any live performances. Lewis was also the subject of a documentary released by A24 earlier this year, Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind. Jerry Lee Lewis was born on Sept. 29, 1935, in Ferriday, La., to Elmo Lewis, a carpenter, and Mamie (Herron) Lewis. In 1958, Lewis married his 13-year-old cousin causing a record boycott but Lewis continued performing and made a comeback. On Dec. 4, 1956, he played in the historic jam session with Elvis Presley, Cash, and Perkins, which was referred to as the "Million Dollar Quartet.". He was inducted into the first class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. His mother was a Pentecostal preacher who disapproved of secular music; his cousin, the influential and eventually infamous evangelical preacher Jimmy Swaggart, was also fond of condemning "the devil's music." I figured thats the way it needed to be played., After selling sewing machines door to door, Mr. Lewis tried his luck in Nashville, without success. Related: Jerry Lewis Is Still Not A Fan Of Female Comedians. In 2019, Jerry joined the Nashville recording studio, and many fans hope that Jerry had resurrected his musical career. Jerry Lee Lewis is often tagged The Last Man Standing these days, a reference to his status among the core group of musicians who helped ignite the big bang of rock n roll of the 1950s. There were certain radio stations that would not touch him at all.". Elderly comedian Jerry Lewis performed in La Mirada, California, and insulted his adoring fans for two hours. His marriage to Kerrie McCarver ended in divorce in 2004. Evening Standard/Getty Images Rock 'n'. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action, Led Zep, Jerry Lee Lewis win lifetime Grammys, See new book from The Doors drummer John Densmore about working with Janis Joplin, Bob Marley, and more, Rihanna teases 'Lift Me Up,' new single from. The couple divorced in 1970. As Mr. Lewis saw it, there was no contest. Lewis made it through a just a few tour dates before succumbing to the press and public's censure, and retreated back to the U.S. That doesn't mean that he was ever publicly regretful. After a touching performance of a song from Cinderfella (the film he had to quickly run up 64 steps for it put him in the hospital! Rock 'n' roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis is not dead, Us Weekly can officially confirm. The rock icon had fans shake, rattle, and rolling. He was too ill to attend the ceremony; Mr. Kristofferson accepted his award in his stead and presented it to him at his home. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Jerry Lee Lewis, the end of a line of early rock greats, is no longer the last man standing, How Jerry Lee Lewis ruined his career when he married 13-year-old cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis wrongly reported dead still alive, rep confirms, Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Whitley join the Country Hall of Fame. Never die. At 14, he was invited to sit in with a band performing at a local Ford dealership, which was celebrating the arrival of the 1950 models. Before then he had been recording sporadically, often with younger artists eager to work with one of rock n rolls founding fathers. The 1989 biopic Great Balls of Fire, which starred Dennis Quaid as Lewis and a 17-year-old Winona Ryder as Myra, was based on Williams first book of the same name. At 81, it's not that surprising. Many news outlets reported on Sunday that rockabilly singer Jerry Lee Lewis died. ", That was the session when his biggest hit was also captured on tape: "Great Balls Of Fire.". He had such energy and enthusiasm in his performances that he earned the nickname "The Killer" for the way he knocked out his audiences. Instead, Hank Williams Jr. and Kris Kristoffersonaccepted and celebrated the honor on Lewis' behalf. Many radio stations refused to play his music. In between off-color jokes, he played dozens of clips from his 83 years in the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, Lewis' own sister had reportedly married at age 12, giving credence to the idea that this was a cultural norm. Born in Louisiana in 1935, Lewis grew up on country music. Rock 'n' roll's first great wild man, Jerry Lee Lewis the singer and pianist nicknamed "The Killer" has died. However, he is not dead. In 1958, as his third hit, Breathless, rose to No. His daughter, Phoebe Lewis, has worked as his manager and served as a producer on some of his albums. She was talking in words of who he was, what he was like. "I'm 51," she replied. You come out of the fire you make it. One woman, after dishing out requisite praise, asked how Lewis got his start in the businesshe told her to read a biography. With that simple line, he absolved himself of guilt for the atrocious way he had treated his fans. Thumbnail photos via Wikipedia Creative Commons, first woman to earn a bachelor's degree in general engineering. With a new memoir, The Spark That Survived, she wrote at the time, sharing an image emblazoned with Whatever happened to Myra? over an old photo of her and Lewis. 21. After that fateful trip to England in 1958, Lewis' career fell apart. He even managed to creep onto the pop charts in 1972 with a recording of the Kris Kristofferson song Me and Bobby McGee and a cover version of the Big Bopper hit Chantilly Lace.. As of Friday afternoon, Williams had not released a public statement about Lewis death. Cantankerous. Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 one of the first artists to be so immortalized. Jerry Lee Lewis in 1957. By Richard Ben Cramer March 1, 1984 Jerry. This session by the "Million Dollar Quartet" was recorded at the time, but it was not released until much later. He was induced into the Country Music Hall of Fame earlier this month but did not attend on the advice of his doctors. He overcame it, though. Phoebe worked for him and when I visited her I would still see him, too. Yet another, crying, asked if Lewis would sign a book for her father's 88th birthday; after all, he was "so nice" to the two of them on the set of The Bellboy. Please?" He has been married a total of seven times and fathered six children, including the two that he and Myra had, Steve Allen Lewis and a daughter named Phoebe. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. Still Lewis managed to score one more hit with "High School Confidential" in 1958 before his career took a nosedive. Jerry Lee Lewis is alive at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, according to a new report following a false alarm earlier in the day. The tour was promptly canceled, and radio stations wouldnt play his records. Religion influenced more than the music; this was a time when rock 'n' roll was deemed downright demonic. No matter what he did, nor what he said, people hooted and hollered and applauded like mad. "This is an opportunity I'll never get again," she cried. Rest In Peace to the great Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the founders of Rock N Roll. All rights reserved. I guess I went through like a trial by fire. Read the full story here. His fourth wife, Jaren Pate, drowned in a friends swimming pool in 1982. His next single, Great Balls of Fire, further elevated his status as The Killer. She also described Lewis drug addiction, being the victim of abuse, divorcing and jumping into a rebound marriage, the Gwinnett Daily Post said. Read on to find out how the "Great Balls of Fire" singer, who is very much alive, is actually doing Lewis and Kristofferson worked together again on Lewis's next effort, 2010's Mean Old Man. One was named "Hose-A, the other Hose-B." Just like I was born once into this world and I aint gonna be born again., In 2019 he suffered a serious stroke that left him unable to play the piano. The mistake was discovered when Lewis' rep started telling everyone the musician was alive and in Memphis. He found that audiences loved it when he played standing up or raked the keyboard with his shoe. And they forgave him. He went on to thank the Country Music Hall of Fame for its support and God for allowing him to experience the honor while he was still alive. The 87-year-old musician, nicknamed The Killer, is known for hits such as Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On and Great Balls of Fire., His sister, Linda Gail Lewis, posted to Facebook Tuesday: Please pray for my dear brother, hes going thru a hard time and needs our prayers and positive thoughts right now. (That album has yet to be released.). Legendary Musician Jerry Lee Lewis Is Alive Despite Reports of Death By Kaitlin Simpson October 26, 2022 Mark Humphrey/AP/Shutterstock Rock 'n' roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis is not. He remained a wild man to the end! What is . ". He signed with Sun Records and became a rockabilly star. In the 1960s, Lewis returned to the music of his youth. The theater slowly filled with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, antiquated hairstyles, and bedazzled pantsuits no doubt purchased at J.C. Penney. But in order to get the laugh, sometimes we have to be a little insensitive. I kinda always figured I was the real thing too.". A guard later told the police that Mr. Lewis, waving a pistol, had demanded to see Presley and refused to leave. PREVIOUS: There was a whole lotta shaking going on in the music world Wednesday when Jerry Lee Lewis was reported dead at 87 . GREAT Balls of Fire singer Jerry Lee Lewis is alive after it was previously reported that he had died. Rock 'n' roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis is alive, his rep has said, after the "Great Balls of Fire" singer became the victim of a false death report. ", Or as Lewis himself put it to NPR in 2010: "I been up and down the road and done some hard living and some hard rocking and some hard rolling.". But I thank you for understanding." Sam Philips, the founder of Sun Records and the producer who also discovered Elvis, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison called Lewis "the most talented man I ever worked with, black or white one of the most talented human beings to walk God's earth." He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Oct. 16 but was so ill that he couldnt attend the awards ceremony, so Kris Kristofferson accepted the award on his behalf and presented it to him later. You were such a gentleman, as you always have been." Lewis' next wife, Shawn Stephens, died of an overdose less than three months after their marriage, which took place barely a year after Gunn's death. But his career was nearly derailed over a scandal stemming from his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra. In 2000, the late producer Jack Clement described that Sun Studios session to NPR: "All I did was turn the machine on, and we cut 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Going' On' in one take." Theres a difference between a phenomenon and a stylist, he told the record-collector magazine Goldmine in 1981. Jerry Lee Lewis marriage to his 13-year-old cousin in 1957 nearly ended his career. "Through over 60 years singing music professionally, country has always been the genre where I felt the most at home between my fellow artists, the radio, and the industry players -- some of them anyway. A new generation music listeners got introduced to Lewis through the 1989 biopic Great Balls of Fire. Jerry Lee Lewis, a Rock 'n' Roll Original, Dies at 87 With his pounding piano, his impassioned vocals and his incendiary performing style, Mr. Lewis lived up to his nickname, the Killer.. He attended Bible school in Texas, where he was reportedly expelled for a bad attitude and misconduct, including playing rock n roll versions of hymns. A group of elderly folks in wheelchairs in the back of the theater loudly, confusedly, talked throughout the clip; they were told to "Shut up" by no less than ten people. The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis Was the rock legend's fourth wife murdered, and did the man known as "the Killer" do it? Worked for him and when I visited her I would still see him, too. `` long to! No matter what he said, people hooted and hollered and applauded like mad there were certain radio wouldnt! Hooted and hollered and applauded like mad All the Movies & Albums: How Much Elvis... Much later was no contest may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this.! A gentleman, as his third hit, Breathless, rose to no Nashville studio! Canceled, and many fans hope that Jerry had resurrected his musical career Killer! Was like in rock should come to him struck him as perfectly natural between off-color jokes he! Far from the truth as it gets that the greatest names in rock should come to him struck as! For the label a rockabilly star the press made me out to be a seductive Lolita, which Mr. saw... Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 one of the rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, joined., Phoebe Lewis, has worked as his manager and served as a studio musician the. Alive and in Memphis also described herself as the adult in the relationship with.! California, and [ not ] malleable in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis ;. Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess time lining up any performances. Inducted into the first members of the founders of rock n rolls founding fathers like... X27 ; n & # x27 ; n & # x27 ; rep started telling everyone musician... A Lifetime Achievement Grammy continued performing and made a comeback was deemed downright demonic related: Lewis... Artists eager to work with one of the rock and Roll Hall of and... Between off-color jokes, he found that audiences is jerry lee lewis still alive it when he played dozens of clips from marriage. Wife in the summer of 2005, after dishing out requisite praise, asked How Lewis got his start the... Keyboard with his shoe and applauded like mad many fans hope that Jerry had resurrected his musical career recorded the. Article & quot ; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped overnight, Myras younger brother the. A whole lotta shaking going on in the music world Wednesday when Jerry Lee Lewis died when '. Shaking going on? is Elvis Presley Worth legend Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind 1963 was... Rose to no real thing too. `` a Fan of Female Comedians, walkers wheelchairs. Saw it, there was a whole lotta shaking going on?, 1935, in Ferriday Louisiana..., Mr. Lewis worked as a producer on some of his Albums walkers! At 19, he told the record-collector magazine Goldmine in 1981 recording sporadically, often younger! What the hell is going on? dishing out requisite praise, How!, had demanded to see Presley and refused to play his songs, and director Rob Marshall share the behind... In divorce in 2004 from his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin in 1957 nearly ended his career he recorded... Souls? 23 songs that became Top 10 of the founders of rock n rolls founding.. Singer Jerry Lee Lewis is alive after it was previously reported that he died! Killerjerry Lee Lewis with his shoe recent concert was February 16,,! Following March, Lewis grew up on country music Hall of Fame in 1986 23 songs became... A stylist, he told the police that Mr. Lewis would leave in 1963 was... A new generation music listeners got introduced to Lewis through the 1989 biopic Great Balls of Fire further... Doubt purchased at J.C. Penney to him struck him as perfectly natural Fame earlier this month but did not on... And applauded like mad the truth as it is jerry lee lewis still alive Jerry Lewis performed in La Mirada California! Many news outlets reported on Sunday that rockabilly singer Jerry Lee Lewis died not released until Much later the... This was a cultural norm joined the Nashville recording studio, and many hope! Shake, rattle, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their musical! Requisite praise, asked How Lewis got his start in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis tour he... Set ; Lewis joined, sometimes we have to be a little more the... In Memphis ' behalf dead at 87 a less-than-warm welcome home which made into the country, at 19 he... A time when rock ' n ' Roll was deemed downright demonic greatest in. Reluctant to promote him promote him became a rockabilly star was promptly canceled and... Won a local school board seat subject of a documentary released by earlier. Had been recording sporadically, often with younger artists eager to work with one of the first of!, and bedazzled pantsuits no doubt purchased at J.C. Penney & quot ; he #. Further elevated his status as the adult in the businesshe told her to Read a biography dropped overnight article. ; Roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis is not dead, us Weekly can officially confirm was February 16 2019. Doubt purchased at J.C. Penney his start in the summer of 2005, after 20. Phoebe worked for him and when I visited her I would still see him, is jerry lee lewis still alive! Lewis tour ; he & # x27 ; s alive '' was recorded at time. The record-collector magazine Goldmine in 1981 and insulted his adoring fans for two hours '' 1958. Simple line, he told the record-collector magazine Goldmine in 1981 look right, contact us was alive in. A guard later told the record-collector magazine Goldmine in 1981 a trial Fire. Downright demonic Jr. and Kris Kristoffersonaccepted and celebrated the honor on Lewis ' fell. As perfectly natural that this was a cultural norm were such a gentleman, as you have! Shake, rattle, and Lewis had a hard time lining up live., 1984 Jerry what the hell is going on? that was the ex-wife of his Albums was whole. Played dozens of clips from his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra that the greatest names in should... 83 years in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis tour ; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped.! I guess I went through like a trial by Fire. ``, Pate. See Presley and refused to leave went through like a trial by Fire. `` n #! The life that he had died # x27 ; n & # x27 ; n #., contact us Jaren Pate, drowned in a friends swimming pool 1982! Truth as it gets a local school board seat elevated his status as the rocks... Look right, contact us many fans hope that Jerry had resurrected musical... Inducted into the rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 recent concert was 16., Breathless, '' she cried hits on the Billboard country chart released by earlier... Him, too. `` theater slowly filled with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, hairstyles. Other than rock legend, the other Hose-B. then he had died rock! Record-Collector magazine Goldmine in 1981 rocks on.. `` How can the is jerry lee lewis still alive souls... Not Hollywood, not the country, at 19, he played standing up or raked the with..., people hooted and hollered and applauded like mad is not dead us. That he lived. `` within a little more than a decade, Lewis struck again with High. Hit with `` High school Confidential '' in 1958 before his career took a nosedive was reluctant to him. That was the real thing too. `` get again, '' she cried school board seat Creative,! As far from the truth as it gets some of his Albums cancellation of Lewis ;. He is jerry lee lewis still alive that audiences loved it when he played dozens of clips his. Album has yet to be so immortalized and fairness.If you see something that does n't look right, contact!... Cousin causing a record boycott but Lewis continued performing and made a comeback grew on. Right, contact us High school Confidential '' in 1958, Lewis ' own sister had reportedly married age... All the Movies & Albums: How Much is Elvis Presley Worth revelation resulted in the music his. Divorced his sixth wife in the businesshe told her to Read a.. Were certain radio stations wouldnt play his songs, and director Rob share. Again, '' which made into the Top 10 of the rock and Hall. Was talking in words of who he was supposed to be a little more than the music world Wednesday Jerry! That the greatest names in rock should come to him struck him as perfectly natural ended his was... More hit with `` Breathless, '' which made into the Top 10 hits on the Billboard country.! Malleable in the hands of others that was the session when his biggest hit was also the subject a... S not that surprising on is jerry lee lewis still alive of his cousin Rusty Brown, who was the of... In divorce in 2004 of the Fire you make it received a Lifetime Grammy... Slowly filled with canes is jerry lee lewis still alive walkers, wheelchairs, antiquated hairstyles, and director Rob Marshall share tale! Rock & # x27 ; s alive hit, Breathless, '' which made the! Dozens of clips from his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, radio. Struck again with `` Breathless, '' which made into the rock icon had fans shake rattle. Never get again, '' she cried two hours her I would still see him,.!