Jerry lee lewis, jimmy swaggart, and mickey gilley country. The life of jerry lee lewis is one of the most dramatic and tormented in rock n roll history. His father, a carpenter and bootlegger, saw his passion and talent and mortgaged their house to buy a. 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. Jerry lewis last month of heart failure at the age of 91. Need another excuse to treat yourself to new book this week. A little bit of little richard and a whole lot of elvis presley, lewis also became a living blueprint for the rock star.
Dec 07, 2014 jerry lee so he refers to himself, as in jerry lee lewis has seen the niaguh falls. Lost and found, memphis producer and musician jim dickinson calls lewis s occasional penchant for interrupting the standard boogie woogie lefthand progression by omitting the seventh and repeating the fifth and sixth, creating a repetitive, driving, quasimenacing momentum, revolutionary, almost. Abutting the drivethrough liquor barn still owned and operated by the lewis family, the jerry lee lewis museum is a family tribute to ferridays most famous son. A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, lewis made his first. The new jerry lee lewis biography is definitively undefinitive. This is a fan page, not the official representative of jerry lee lewis. Sep 27, 2017 jerry lewis last month of heart failure at the age of 91. To start with, she was previously married to the rocker s cousin, rusty. Jerry lee lewis born september 29, 1935 is an american singersongwriter, musician, and pianist, often known by his nickname, the killer. Dc comics, switching from martin and lewis, published a new comic book series titled the adventures of jerry lewis, running from 1957 to 1971.
Oct 27, 2014 when you interview jerry lee lewis, you go into it assuming some questions could get you shot. Nov 24, 2014 the greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling author rick bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, jerry lee lewisand gets his own story, from. Jerry lee lewis, american singer and pianist whose virtuosity, ecstatic performances, and colorful personality made him a legendary rock music pioneer. Lewis would remain at paramount, becoming a comedy star in his own right and his first solo movie was the delicate delinquent 1957, marking lewis debut as. Joe bonomos new book jerry lee lewis lost and found is a wonderful book. Oct 27, 2014 lewis was barely kinder about the 1993 book killer. Jerry lee lewis jerry lee lewis was born on september 29th, 1935, in ferriday, louisiana. A monumental figure on the american landscape, jerry lee lewis spent his childhood raising hell in ferriday, louisiana, and natchez, mis. Jul 29, 2012 growing up in quitman, a small town in the piney woods of northeast texas, j. Its by pulitzer prizewinning journalist rick bragg. T he killer was in his bedroom, behind the door of iron bars, as sonny daniels. The book for any jerry lee lewis fan is a must,you get the full,and proper facts from the man himself,no punches pulled,the very early years,and the boy knew that he had something burning inside that needed releasing,and as history shows,he did just that.
Apr 06, 2018 hulton arcivegetty images jerry lee lewis and myra gale brown shortly after their wedding in 1957. Lewis would remain at paramount, becoming a comedy star in his own right and his first solo movie was the delicate delinquent 1957, marking lewis debut as film producer. Feb 10, 2020 jerry lee lewis came storming out of the deep south in the 1950s with his frenetic pianoplaying and hotandbothered lyrical delivery to become an architect of the new, dizzying genre of rock n roll. Yesterday the killer, jerry lee lewis was honored with the 34th marker on mississippis country music trail at his home the lewis ranch in nesbit, ms. Jerry lee lewis reveals his life in new book his own story. Just saying im doing okay and congratulations to you peter with your new book. Now lets go home, boys was a hellraiser from the start, a breech baby who came into the world feet. Rick bragg on jerry lee lewis at 2014 miami book fair youtube. Jerry lewis has 23 books on goodreads with 6578 ratings. New york times bestsellerthe greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york. Lewis was barely kinder about the 1993 book killer. His notable songs included whole lotta shakin goin on, great balls of fire, and breathless. Jerry lee lewis former teenage wife releases new book. His own story by rick bragg, a pairing pitched in the books publicity materials as the pulitzer.
Thank you to marty stuart, governor phil bryant, visit mississippi, and every person who helped to make this happen. Jerry lee lewis, born september 29, 1935, ferriday, louisiana, u. Jerry lee lewis museum ferriday, louisiana atlas obscura. Myra williams, jerry lee lewis yearold bride, speaks out.
The killer is as big as mount rushmore, and hes also as american, as revered, as cliched, as misunderstood, as corny, and as taken for granted as that. He signed with sun records in 1956 and quickly became a star. New york times bestsellerthe greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling author rick bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, jerry lee lewisand gets his own story, from the source, for the very first time. Jerry lee lewis former teenage wife to discuss book in sandy. Jerry lee lewis is quite simply one of the best books about rock and roll ever. Feb 19, 2020 when jerry lee lewis entered a nashville recording studio late last month, he had no idea what was going to happen. Hiring jerry lee lewis for corporate events, appearances, speaking engagements and product endorsements is easy with booking entertainment. That time jerry lee lewis married myra gale brown, his. Jerry lee lewis is one of the first true rock n roll musicians. When you interview jerry lee lewis, you go into it assuming some questions could get you shot. Special photo rock n roll icon jerry lee lewis and his former wife myra lewis share a laugh in this photo. Jerry lewis disinherited 5 of his kids, and heres why we know. The greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times.
The greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling. A superb new study of jerry lee lewis thats as intense and fast paced as the life of the killer himself, from the height of fame to the bumpy road that followed. Author rick bragg did not just talk to jerry lee lewis. The story of jerry lee lewis has inspired songs and articles, books and films, but in these pages rick bragg restores a. What jerry lee lewis and beethoven share in a new book, pianist, composer and author stuart isacoff proposes an aural taxonomy of pianists. An iconic rocker receives a warm, admiring biography from a pulitzer prizewinning journalist and author. Jerry lee lewis his own story by rick bragg i have just finished reading this 500 page book by professor rick bragg. Makes me young again and back in the sixties, thanks for bringing that music back in the spotlight. Oct 28, 2014 theres a whole lotta jerry lee lewis news goin on today.
His own story, does not do this book justice, as it is really two books in one. It is by far the best book ever on the life and music of jerry lee lewis. As you would expect from a professor who teaches english, it is a scholarly work that has been incredibly well researched. 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. Jerry lee so he refers to himself, as in jerry lee lewis has seen the niaguh falls. Dec 06, 2014 rick bragg presents his book, jerry lee lewis. Wednesday at malaprops bookstorecafe, 55 haywood st. He began playing the piano at age 9, copying the styles of preachers and black musicians. Longtime gwinnett resident mrya lewis williams has written a new memoir that shares her life story, including the details of her marriage at the age of to rock n roll icon jerry lee lewis. Lewis, born in 1935 delivered by his father and among the few remaining stars from the early days of rock n roll, cooperated eagerlyif not always accuratelywith bragg the most they ever had, 2011, etc. Jerry lee lewis and wife shawn stevens lewis attend a pregrammy party at the biltmore hotel on february 23rd, 1983.
He had not played music since february 2019, when he suffered a serious stroke. No writer is better suited than rick bragg to tell lewiss story. Exwife of jerry lee lewis signs new book in lynchburg. Hellfire is a wild, riveting, and beautifully written biography that received universal acclaim on its original publication and remains one of the most remarkable biographies ever written. Hulton arcivegetty images jerry lee lewis and myra gale brown shortly after their wedding in 1957. When jerry lee lewis entered a nashville recording studio late last month, he had no idea what was going to happen. Ive been working very hard writing a book for the past 12 months, and, with impeccable bad timing. A monumental figure on the american landscape, jerry lee lewis spent his. Jerry lee lewis was born on september 29, 1935, in ferriday, louisiana. The category in which jerry lee lewis truly belongs is jerry lee lewis. Longtime gwinnett resident myra lewis williams has penned a new memoir sharing her life story, including her teenage marriage with her second cousin rock n roll star jerry lee lewis. Mar 31, 2020 ive been working very hard writing a book for the past 12 months, and, with impeccable bad timing. Myra lewis poses for a photo with then husband jerry lee lewis in england in 1958.
Duluth resident myra lewis williams shares her story. In 1957, 23yearold jerry lee lewis married myra gale brown. Growing up in quitman, a small town in the piney woods of northeast texas, j. The greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling author rick bragg, tracks down the. He had not played music since february 2019, when he. Jerry lee lewis former teenage wife releases new book news. Myra lewis williams the third wife and second cousin of jerry lee lewis will talk about her book in sandy springs on may 2. Rick bragg gives jerry lee lewis his say usa today. Jerry lee lewis to play new years eve 2019 concert on beale street. Myra lewis williams, the former wife of musician jerry lee lewis, known for marrying him at the age of, signs copies of her memoir the spark that survived on monday at givens books.
The greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling author rick bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, jerry lee. Jerry lee lewis born september 29, 1935 is an american singersongwriter, musician, and pianist, who is often known by his nickname of the killer and is of. Davis was exposed early on to the famous trio from north louisianacousins jerry lee lewis, jimmy swaggart, and mickey gilley. The greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling author rick bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, jerry lee lewisand gets his own story, from the source, for the very first time. Booking entertainment makes it easy to book jerry lee lewis or any other entertainer for corporate events, private events, weddings, social media campaigns, appearances, speaking engagements and product endorsements worldwide. 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. Theres a whole lotta jerry lee lewis news goin on today. His second marriage had caused quite a stir when people realized it had taken place 23 days before his first divorce was final.