“My name is Jerry Lee Lewis, I come from Louisiana, gonna do you a little boogie on this here piano…” The Killer was born today in 1935.
1935:
Rock ‘n’ Roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis was born in Ferriday, Louisiana, USA.
A man who rubbed shoulders with the likes of Elvis & Johnny Cash whilst recording at the famous Sun Studios….A career derailed by a marriage involving an under-age bride – with two of his other five wives dying in tragic circumstances…..A hard-living lifestyle liberally spiced with women, booze and pills following a failed bid to become a preacher….A latter-day renaissance that has brought two successful albums to date, chock-full of illustrious special guests and with some of his old fire intact.
Donnie Fritt’s composition, “My life would make a damn good country song” hardly covers it all – but is as good a theme tune for over half a century of keyboard-related mayhem.
Even in isolation, Jerry Lee’s rock and roll greatest hits - “Great Balls of Fire”, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”, “High School Confidential” and many others - would ensure his legendary status. However, his country recordings hit the mark equally.
And if some of his covers can veer towards the perfunctory, then most blow other versions out of the jukebox -from “Crazy Arms” via “Detroit City” to “Another Place, Another Time.” Take a tip and get some Killer country- you won’t regret it.
Check out and purchase Jerry Lee Lewis CDs from our e-shop, Propermusic.com by clicking on the logo below:
And here’s some footage of Jerry Lee in action:
