Jerry Lee Lewis Biography

Born September 29, 1935, Jerry Lee Lewis began playing piano at the age of eight. His parents mortgaged their farm to buy his first piano – a Stark Upright. He played the piano religiously as a child and in 1956, the 21 year old brought his talent to Sam Phillips at Sun Records.

On July 28, 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis performed his first single, “Whole Lotta Shakin’” on the Steve Allen Show. The song began to rise quickly up the charts and held the number one spot in the Pop, Country, Western and R&B; charts! His next release, “Great Balls of Fire” surpassed all artists in musical history by standing atop the Pop, Country and R&B; Charts again.

Notorious for his marriage to his 13 year old second cousin, Myra Gale Brown, his reputation took a hard permanent dive during his tour of England in 1958. Once the British press learned of his young (and blood-related) wife, news of the scandal spread across the continent and the ocean. His reputation severely severed world-wide, Jerry Lee Lewis went from making $10,000 a night to $250 per performance. His only hits thereafter was a Ray Charles cover, “What I’d Say” in 1961 and a Big Bopper Cover of “Chantilly Lace” in 1973.

In 1970, Myra divorced him and his 19-year-old son, Jerry Lee Jr., was killed in a road accident in 1973. Earlier in the 1960’s, his first son, Steve Allen, drowned in a swimming pool accident. Plagued with these sad events, Jerry Lee Lewis’ erratic behaviour led him to near-death from a bleeding ulcer. After his recovery, his fourth wife drowned in a swimming pool under suspicious circumstances. About a year later, his fifth wife was found dead from a methadone overdose. Jerry Lee Lewis, at his lowest point and addicted to drugs himself, checked himself into a Betty Ford Clinic.

To add to all his misfortunes, Jerry Lee accidentally shot his bass player, Butch Owens in the chest on Jerry Lee’s 41’s birthday. Owens survived, but Jerry was soon in more trouble at Elvis’ Graceland mansion, when he jokingly told the security guard at the gates that he had his gun on him to kill Presley!

Nicknamed “The Killer” for his forceful voice and his stage presence, Jerry Lee Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In February 2005, Jerry Lee Lewis was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy of the Grammy Awards. He plans to release a new album in 2005 with a line-up that will include artists such as Eric Claption, B.B. King, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Read more on Jerry Lee Lewis at http://www.jerryleelewis.nl/

Do you have any more information on this artist?