(divorced, two children), Judith Brown
Biography
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American singer, pianist, composer, and one of the leading performers of rock and roll.
Jerry Lee Lewis was born in Ferryday, Louisiana on September 29, 1935 to a poor family of Elmo and Mami Lewis. Lewis started playing the piano at an early age with his cousins Mickey Gilley (later a famous country music performer) and Jimmy Swaggart (who later became a popular TV preacher). It was in those years that Lewis received the nickname "The Killer" (The Killer).
Career
Lewis's career began in Memphis, recording for Sun Records in 1956. The label owner, Sam Phillips, had high hopes for Lewis, hoping to raise the next Elvis Presley. The singer's first hit was the single Crazy Arms (1956). The next hit - "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (1957) - became the singer's hallmark. This was followed by the successful "Great Balls of Fire" (1957), "Breathless" (1958), "High School Confidential" (1958). Being a pianist and unable to move away from the instrument, Lewis directed all his whirlwind energy into the game, often supplementing it with kicks on the keys with his feet and head.
Lewis's booming career was almost ruined by a scandal that erupted in May 1958 during a tour of England and Scotland around his marriage to his 13-year-old great-niece Myra Gail Brown. The scandal led to the fact that some of the concerts were disrupted, and the rest had to be canceled due to the unfolding large-scale persecution of the artist in the British press. At home, the artist also received a cold welcome.
His songs disappeared from the air of American radio stations for a long time, only Alan Freed remained devoted to the musician and continued to put his recordings on the air of his radio station until the payola scandal that erupted in 1959. Lewis was the only successful Sun Records artist who continued to record with Sam Phillips, unlike other labelmates who moved to larger record labels after a year or two. In the early 1960s Lewis turned to modern rhythm and blues and recorded his cover versions of songs such as "Money (That's What I Want)", "What'd I Say", "Save the Last Dance for Me".
In 1963, Lewis parted ways with Sun Records and began to search for his new path. By the mid-1960s, when the effects of the scandal subsided, Jerry Lee Lewis again gained some popularity among the European public, mainly in the UK and Germany. At the same time, he re-recorded his rock and rolls of the 50s. for Smash Records (a division of Mercury Records). Then, like many rock musicians of his generation, Lewis gradually began to turn to country music, where success awaited him. In 1968, the name of Jerry Lee Lewis returned to the first lines of the hit parade of the Billboard country category with the single "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)", in 1971, after a 13-year hiatus, the artist reappeared golden single - "". In 1973, the single "Chantilly Lace" topped the country charts for three weeks.
While celebrating his forty-first birthday in 1976, Lewis jokingly pointed a gun at his bass player, Butch Owens, and, believing he was unloaded, pulled the trigger, shooting him in the chest. Owens survived. A few weeks later, on November 23, Lewis was arrested in another gun-related incident. Lewis was invited by Elvis Presley to his Graceland estate, but the guards did not know about his visit. When asked what he was doing at the front gate, Lewis showed a gun and told the guards that he had come to kill Presley.
In 1986, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was created and Jerry Lee Lewis became one of the 10 original members. Three years later, Myra Gail Brown's book was adapted into a biography of Jerry Lee Lewis, covering the period from childhood to the 1958 scandal. Dennis Quaid played the title role in the film "Fireballs", the role of Myra was played by Winona Ryder. Especially for the film, Lewis re-recorded his biggest hits. Lewis was also featured prominently in Walk the Line (2005), a biopic about Johnny Cash.
Jerry Lee Lewis still records and performs occasionally.
Heritage
In the singer's hometown, a lane is named after him. An entire musical group is named after Lewis' song "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)".
Discography
Albums
2012 Sun Recordings: Greatest Hits
2010 Mean Old Man
2006 Last Man Standing
1995 Young Blood
1986 Get Out Your Big Roll Daddy
1986 Class of "55 (with Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison)
1985 Six of ONe, Half a Dozen of the Other (recordings from a concert at the Palomino Club)
1984 I Am What I Am
1984 Four Legends (with Webb Pierce, Faron Young and Mel Tillis)
1982 The Survivors (with Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash)
1982 My Fingers Do the Talkin
1981 The Million Dollar Quartet (recorded 1956 with Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins)
1980 When Two Worlds Collide
1980 Killer Country
1979 Jerry Lee Lewis
1978 Jerry Lee Lewis Keeps Rockin
1977 Country Memories
1976 Country Class
1975 Boogie Woogie Country Man
1974 I-40 Country
1973 The Session
1973 Southern Roots- Back Home to Memphis
1973 Sometimes a Memory Ain't Enough
1972 ?
1972 The "Killer" Rocks On
1971 Would You Take Another Chance On Me?
1971 Touching Home
1971 There Must Be More To Love Than This
1971 In Loving Memories: The Jerry Lee Lewis Gospel Album
1970 She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye
1970 Live at the International, Las Vegas
1969 Jerry Lee Lewis Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits, Vol. 2
1969 Jerry Lee Lewis Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits, Vol. one
1968 She Still Comes Around
1968 Another Place, Another Time
1967 Soul My Way
1967 By Request: More of the Greatest Live Show on Earth
1966 Memphis Beat
1965 The Return of Rock
1965 Country Songs for City Folks
1964 The Greatest Live Show on Earth
1964 Live at the Star Club, Hamburg
1963 The Golden Hits of Jerry Lee Lewis
1961 Jerry Lee's Greatest
1958 Jerry Lee Lewis
Singles
1989 Never Too Old to Rock "n" Roll (duet with Ronnie McDowell)
1986 Sixteen Candles
1986 Get Out Your Big Roll, Daddy / Honky Tonkin "Rock" n "Roll Piano Man
1984 I Am What I Am / That Was The Way It Was Then
1982 Why You Been Gone So Long / She Sings Amazing Grace
1982 My Fingers Do the Talkin' / Forever Forgiving
1982 I "m So Lonesome I Could Cry / Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
1982 Circumstantial Evidence / Come As You Were
1981 Thirty-Nine And Holding / Change Places With Me
1981 I "d Do It All Again / Who Will Buy The Wine
1980 When Two Worlds Collide / Good News Travels Fast
1980 Honky Tonk Stuff / Rockin' Jerry Lee
1980 Folsom Prison Blues / Over The Rainbow
1979 Who Will The Next Fool Be / Rita May
1979 Rockin' My Life Away / I Wish I Was Eighteen Again
1978 I "ll Find It Where I Can / Don" t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes
1978 Come On In / Who's Sorry Now
1977 Middle-Age Crazy / Georgia On My Mind
1976 The Closest Thing To You / You Belong To Me
1976 Let's Put It Back Together Again / Jerry's Rock'n'Roll Revival Show
1976 Don "t Boogie-Woogie / That Kind Of Fool
1975 I Can Still Hear The Music In The Restroom / (Remember Me) I "m The One Who Loves You
1975 Boogie-Woogie Country Man / I "m Still Jealous Of You
1975 A Damn Good Country Song / When I Take My Vacation In Heaven
1974 Telltale Signs / Cold, Cold Morning Light
1974 Just A Little Bit / Meat Man
1974 He Can't Fill My Shoes / Tomorrow's Taking Baby Away
1973 Sometimes A Mermory Ain't Enough / I Need To Pray
1973 No More Hanging On / The Mercy Of A Letter
1973 No Headstone On My Grave / Jack Daniel's (Old Number Seven)
1973 Falling To The Bottom / I "m Left, You" re Right, She's Gone
1973 Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee / Rock Medley
1972 Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano / No Honky Tonks In Heaven
1972 Me And Jesus / Handwriting On The Wall
1972 Lonely Weekends / Turn On Your Lovelight
1972 Chantilly Lace / Think About It Darlin
1971 When He Walks On You / Foolish Kind Of Man
1971 Touching Home / Woman, Woman
1971 Me & Bobby McGhee / Would You Take Another Chance On Me
1970 There Must Be More To Love Than This / Home Away From Home
1970 I Can't Have A Merry Christmas, Mary (Without You) / In Loving Memories
1969 She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye / Echoes
1969 Roll Over Beethoven / Secret Places
1969 One Has My Name / I Can't Stop Loving You
1969 Once More With Feeling / You Went Out Of Your Way
1969 Don "t Let Cross Over / We Live In Two Different Worlds
1968 What's Made Milwaukee Famous / All The Good Is Gone
1968 To Make Love Sweeter For You
Jerry Lee Lewis(born September 29, 1935) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and pianist who is often known by his nickname "The Killers" and is often regarded as the first great wild man of "rock and roll".
An early pioneer of rock and roll music, in 1956 Lewis made his first recordings in Sun Records. "Crazy Hands" sold 300,000 copies in the South, but it was his 1957 hit "The Whole Lotta Shakin' Sequel" that shot Lewis to worldwide fame. Lewis followed this when he recorded songs such as "The Great Sultry Beauties", "Breathless" and "High School Confidential". However, Lewis's rock and roll career faltered due to his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin when he was 22.
He had little success in the charts after and his popularity quickly faded. His live performance fees plummeted from $10,000 a night to $250. Meanwhile, he was determined to get some of his popularity back. During the early 1960s he did not have much chart success with rare exceptions such as "What Will I Say". His live performances during this time were more and more wild and energetic. His album Live at the Star Club, Hamburg from 1964 is often regarded by many music journalists and fans as one of the wildest and biggest rock and roll concert albums ever. After recording songs such as "I'm Burning" for several years with little success, in 1968 Lewis made the transition into country music and had hits with songs such as "Another Place, Another Time". This reignited his career and during the late 1960s and 1970s, he regularly topped the country's Western charts. His No. 1 country hit included "To Make Love Sweeter For You", "There Must Be More To Love Than This", "Would You Take Another Runs Into Me" and "Me and Bobby McGee".
Lewis's successes continued throughout the decade, and he swept his rock and roll past with songs such as a cover of Big Boper's “Chantilly Lace” and Mac Vickery's “Rockin' My Life Away”. In the 21st century, Lewis continues to tour audiences around the world and is still releasing new albums. One such album, titled Last Man Standing, is his best-selling album to date with over a million copies sold worldwide. This was followed by Mean Old Man, which received some of the best sales of Lewis's career. Lewis has had a dozen gold records in both rock and country, won several Grammy awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and his pioneering contributions to the genre have been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 1989, his life was celebrated in the movie Great Balls of Fire, starring Dennis Quaid. In 2003 Rolling Stone listed his box set All Killer, No Filler: An Anthology number 242 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2004, they ranked him number 24 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Lewis is the latest surviving member of the Million Dollar Sun Records Quartet and the Class of '55 albums, which also included Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley.
Youth
Lewis was born to the poor family of Elmo and Mamie Lewis at Ferriday in Concordia County in eastern Louisiana, and began playing the piano in his youth with two cousins, country music singer Mickey Gilly and television evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. His parents mortgaged their farm to buy his piano. Influenced by an older piano-playing cousin, Carl McVoy (who later recorded with the Bill Black Company), the radio and sounds from the juke's black joint through tracks called Honey's Big House. On the live album By Call, more of the Biggest Live Show on Earth, Lewis is heard naming Lunar Mullican as the artist who inspired him.
His mother enrolled him at the Southwestern Bible Institute in Waxahachee, Texas, so that her son would exclusively sing his gospel songs. But Lewis boldly played a boogie-woogie rendition of “My God Is Real” at a church meeting that sent him packing that same night. Pirrie Greene, then student body president, related how during the talent show, Lewis played some “mundane” music. The next morning, the dean of the school named Lewis and Greene to his office to remove them. Lewis said Green should not be deported because "he didn't know what I was going to do". A few years later, Greene asked Lewis, "Are you still playing the devil's music?" Lewis replied “Yes, I am. But you know it's strange, the same music they kicked me out of school for is the same kind of music they play in their churches today. The difference is, I know I'm playing for the devil and they don't”.
After that incident, he went home and began playing clubs in and around Ferriday and Natchez, Mississippi, becoming part of the growing new rock and roll sound and cutting his first demo recording in 1954. He made a trip to Nashville around 1955, where he played clubs and tried to build interest but was turned down by the Grand Ole Opry as he was on the Catania country stage on the Louisiana cart and a radio show in Shreveport. Recording executives in Nashville suggested that he switch to playing guitar.
Jerry Lee Lewis is a true legend in the world of music. He is one of the founders of such a style as rock and roll. Do you want to know the details of his and his personal life? All the necessary information is contained in the article.
Biography: childhood and youth
He was born on September 29, 1935 in the American town of Ferryday. From an early age, he showed a love for music. At the age of 10, Jerry began to master the piano. At first, the boy independently got acquainted with the capabilities of this tool. But soon the parents invited a teacher for him. Piano lessons were held several times a week.
The future world pop star was brought up in a religious family. The boy was even going to become a clergyman. After leaving school, he went to Texas, where he entered the Bible Institute. However, in this institution, the guy did not study for long. He was expelled. And all because Jerry performed the song "My God Is Real" in the style of "boogie". Teachers considered this composition blasphemous.
Our hero was not upset at all because of the expulsion from the institute. By that time, he had already realized that the career of a clergyman was not his calling. The guy got real pleasure from music. He wanted to develop in this direction.
The beginning of creative activity
In 1954 he recorded two cover songs. They were aired on Louisiana radio stations. In just a few days, the young performer acquired a small army of fans.
In the fall of 1956, Jerry traveled to Memphis. There he auditioned in one of the largest recording studios. Professionals highly appreciated the vocal abilities of our hero. However, his repertoire seemed irrelevant to them. In those days, Americans preferred rock and roll compositions. And Jerry Lewis worked in the direction of "country".
The young performer had to reconsider his musical style. And soon he fell in love with rock and roll with all his heart. Jerry recorded the song "End Of The Road" in this genre. The chairman of Sun Records liked her very much.
Difficulties
In the first half of 1958, a loud scandal erupted around Jerry Lewis. And all because he got married to his 13-year-old cousin.
At some point, the largest US radio stations stopped airing his songs. Jerry Lee Lewis was blacklisted for a long time. Concerts planned in advance had to be noted. In print publications, his name was mentioned only in a negative way.
Only in 1963 did the musician manage to restore his career. Concerts of Jerry Lee Lewis again began to take place in major European and American cities. Listeners missed their favorite singer. Soon he pleased them with the new (second in a row) Jerry Lee's Greatest album. His fans liked the compositions contained on the disc.
Continuing a career
After some time, representatives of the record company Smash Records offered Jerry Lee a mutually beneficial cooperation. Our hero could not miss such a chance. He began to work in the studio.
The management of Smash Records was pleased that they had acquired such a talented and hardworking musician as Jerry Lee Lewis as a partner. The artist's albums were released one after another. Between 1971 and 2013 at least 40 records were released. They have sold millions of copies around the world. Each of the albums contained at least 2-3 hits.
Personal life
Jerry Live has always been a conqueror of women's hearts. And he himself often fell in love. For the first time, our hero married at the age of 15. His chosen one was the daughter of a local priest. However, this marriage did not last long. The reason for the divorce was the scandal associated with the young cousin of the performer. You talked about this above.
So, Jerry married his 13-year-old niece Myra Gale Brown. Many people condemned him for a vicious connection. But our hero was not interested in other people's opinions. He was married to Myra for almost 12 years.
In the future, the performer tried 5 times to build family happiness. Some of the marital unions broke up due to a mismatch of characters and interests. There were also mystical cases. For example, Jerry's fourth wife drowned in the pool. That's not all. His fifth wife died due to a drug overdose. It was as if evil fate hung over the famous musician.
At the beginning of 2012, our hero decided to go to the altar for the seventh time. At that time he was 76 years old. The performer's chosen one was his nurse. She is 14 years younger than Lewis. I must say that both spouses are not embarrassed by such a difference in age.
present tense
The American singer is as full of energy as he was 10-15 years ago. He continues to record songs and give concerts. Of course, due to his age, he had to significantly reduce the number of his performances. But this did not make the listeners love him less.
In 1986, Jerry Lewis was inducted into the top ten members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You simply cannot imagine a better recognition for a creative person.
And 3 years later, a film adaptation of his biography was released. The film, titled "Fireballs", received high praise from viewers and critics. The role of Jerry was played by an American film actor. He coped with the tasks set by the director 100%.
Finally
Now you know what path Jerry Lee has traveled to worldwide popularity. In his life there were ups and downs, marital happiness and the bitterness of loss. However, all the trials sent by fate, our hero passed with his head held high. We wish him good health and creative inspiration!
Jerry Lee Lewis is a legendary musician who is distinguished not only by great talent, but also by an unlimited supply of creative energy. Today he is already seventy-eight years old, but the cult performer is still cheerful and full of energy. He records new songs, gives concerts and is constantly working on the implementation of new creative projects. And this approach brings results.Today, like many years ago, Jerry Lee Lewis concerts attract thousands of people. But what is the secret of such an impressive success? We will try to understand this today by presenting to your attention a short story about the life and creative destiny of the great musician.
Early years, childhood and family of Jerry Lee Lewis
As reported in most modern sources, our today's hero began to play the piano in early childhood. Literally from the age of ten, he methodically sorted out chords, and also took over the skill from his cousin, Mickey Gilly (now a famous country performer). Sometimes he also took lessons from invited teachers, but such cases were quite rare.Due to the fact that Jerry's family was extremely religious, this quality was soon transferred to him. From an early age, he dreamed of becoming a clergyman, and therefore, after graduating from school, without hesitation, he entered the Southwestern Bible Institute in Texas. Here he continued to improve his musical skills. However, studying at a Texas university was short-lived for him.
The reason for the expulsion, oddly enough, was the music. The thing is that during one of the performances, the young musician got the idea to perform the song “My God Is Real” in the “boogie” style. Soon he successfully put his idea into practice. But to the teachers of the religious institute, this idea seemed not the most successful. The song was called blasphemous, and very soon our today's hero was expelled from the university.
Realizing that the career of a clergyman is, to put it mildly, "not his", Jerry Lee Lewis decided to devote his life to his favorite pastime - music. In 1954, our today's hero recorded two cover songs for a Louisiana radio station. The songs hit the air, and this small success made the young musician believe in himself.
An excerpt from the film about Jerry Lee Lewis "Great balls of fire"
In the fall of 1956, he arrived in Memphis and arranged an audition for one of the local record companies. The musical talents of the young guy were appreciated, but his repertoire was recognized as "not relevant". The thing is that at that time, rock and roll was the fashionable and most sought-after style, but Jerry's repertoire included only compositions in the country style. Representatives of Sun Records asked the musician to reconsider his musical style a bit, and Jerry Lee Lewis had no choice but to agree.
It is worth noting that our today's hero wrote the necessary compositions quite soon. "Rock and roll" "End Of The Road" led to indescribable delight of the chairman of Sun Records, and he subsequently spoke of the young musician as "the new Elvis Presley".
It is noteworthy that the ability to easily switch from one style to another later became one of the characteristic features of the musical work of Jerry Lee Lewis.
Star Trek by Jerry Lee Lewis
In 1958, our today's hero presented to the public his first studio album, which received the modest name "Jerry Lee Lewis" several songs from this disc very soon got into active rotation of all radio stations in North America and some time later turned into real hits.In the late fifties, the musician went on a long tour of the cities of the USA, Canada and Great Britain. The singer's career developed rapidly. However, in the second half of 1958, a serious scandal erupted around the popular musician related to his marriage to his thirteen-year-old cousin Myra Gale Brown. Due to this incident, many of the singer's concerts in Europe were canceled. No less cold reception of Jerry Lee Lewis awaited at home.
Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin Going On (Live 1964)
Because of the scandal that broke out, our today's hero was blacklisted by all radio stations for a long time. His concerts were cancelled, and newspaper publications about himself and his work were predominantly critical.
It was only in 1963 that the musician managed to get out of a protracted peak. During this period, he again began to give concerts, and compositions from the musician's second studio album ("Jerry Lee's Greatest") began to sound on US radio stations. Soon, Lewis again began to tour a lot. During this period, not only American and Canadian, but also German and English cities.
In the first half of the sixties, our today's hero signed a contract with Smash Records and began active studio work. Subsequently, he released several albums a year, and in 1971 he again managed to record a “golden single” with the symbolic title “Would You Take Another Chance on Me”.
From that moment on, the career of Jerry Lewis developed rapidly. In the period from 1971 to 2013, he recorded about forty (!) new albums, the last of which - the compilation "Sun Recordings: Greatest Hits" - was released in 2012. Almost each of the studio records gave the world at least two or three real hits.
Jerry Lee Lewis at present
Currently, Jerry Lee Lewis is still as full of energy as ever. He often performs in various cities in Europe and North America, and is also working on the implementation of several new studio projects.In 1986, our today's hero was included in the first ten members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Directly or indirectly, the life of the legendary musician is told in two biopics at once.
Personal life of Jerry Lee Lewis
The novels and marriages of Jerry Lee Lewis could easily be the subject of a separate article. For the first time, the now legendary musician had a chance to go under the altar at the age of fifteen. His wife was the daughter of a local priest. The reason for the collapse of this marriage was the above-mentioned romance of the performer with his young niece. 
The marital union with a young girl lasted 12 years and subsequently also broke up. In the future, our today's hero decided to tie the knot five more times. Some of these marital unions broke up by themselves, and some were interrupted by the fault of the case.
So, the fourth wife of the musician drowned in the pool, and the fifth died from an overdose. In early 2012, the 76-year-old musician married for the seventh time. The new wife of Jerry Lee Lewis was his nurse, who at that time was 62 years old.
Jerry Lee Lewis. Resilient rock and roll legend
Today, few people remember Jerry Lee Lewis, nicknamed the Killer, and some may not even have heard of him. Someone will say that this is an American singer, he sang in the style of rock and roll. They will also surely remember that he masterfully played the piano not only with his hands, but also with his feet. But not everyone knows that at one time he was the number one star in America, and Elvis took only second place. But Presley continued to record new records, perform concerts, act in films, and Jerry's career quickly ended. And one of the reasons for this was his relationship with women.
Jerry Lee Lewis, one of America's greatest musicians, was born in Ferriday, North Louisiana, into a religious family. Since childhood, he was sure that he would become a great musician, and began to play the portable harmonium. Jerry did so poorly in school that he almost got kicked out of second grade. But his parents did not scold him for his poor studies: they also did not doubt that he would become famous as a musician, and even went to a neighboring city and bought a piano for their son. In order to pay for it, they had to mortgage the house.
Jerry was only 11 years old when he got this instrument. At first, he played church hymns on it, then country tunes that his parents loved, then jazz. Very soon he played the piano to perfection and was well versed in all the then popular musical styles.
Jerry grew up, graduated from high school and married the priest's daughter, Dorothy Barton. Jerry was only 16 at the time and just beginning his career as a musician. He played from morning to evening, trying to compose a song that would become a hit. And when it got dark, he went to the local Blue Cat Club, where unknown black musicians Muddy Waters and Ray Charles performed. The club was only for blacks, and Jerry had to go to all sorts of tricks in order to get inside. Dorothy did not approve of Jerry's hobbies, and after a while they broke up.
Jerry then started dating a girl named Jane Mitchum. Very soon she became pregnant, after which Jerry was visited by Jane's brothers and demanded that he marry her. Lewis did not hesitate to go to church for the second time, not even bothering to divorce his first wife. A few months later, Jerry had a son, and at the same time he wrote his first rock and roll hit. Soon he began performing in clubs and bars. A couple of times he had to give concerts even in brothels, he agreed to play wherever he was invited. After some time, the young musician had a second son, but he already had reason to doubt the fidelity of his wife and that she gave birth to a second child from him.
At 19, Jerry Lee packed up his things and headed to Memphis. Here he settled in the house of Uncle Jay V and here he met his 13-year-old cousin Mira Gale. When he first saw her, he realized that without her he would no longer be able to live. The girl also fell in love with him at first sight. Very soon they became lovers, and then got married. The fact that Jerry was not divorced from his previous wives did not bother Mira at all.
At the same time, his career took off: he recorded the songs "Whole Lotta Shakin" and "Great Balls of Fire", which became hits, began to gather huge audiences in concert halls. The audience went to his concerts not only to listen to the songs, but also to watch the show. He began to play and sing, sitting at the piano, then he jumped up, threw his chair away, began to dance, play along with his foot, then climbed onto the piano and continued to sing: the Americans had not seen anything like this and left the concerts in complete delight. At Jerry's concerts, many fell into ecstasy.
Once Lewis was supposed to play a concert with Chuck Berry. The musicians argued for a long time over who would perform last and who would warm up the audience. Finally, Jerry Lee, angry, interrupted the argument in mid-sentence and went on stage first. He sang, danced at a frantic pace, shouted, played the piano with his hands, with the heels of his boots, and finally doused it with gasoline and set it on fire. The instrument began to blaze, and Jerry Lee continued to play faster and faster, despite the fact that the flames had already begun to creep up to the keys, and even after his hands began to glow. Leaving the stage, Lewis threw Chuck over his shoulder: "Try to outdo it, nigga!".
Lewis received huge royalties, his records were sold out in huge numbers: 10 thousand copies were sold in just one day. He was at the zenith of his fame. The Billboard magazine published his photograph, under which there was a quote from the owner of the most influential recording studio, San Records: "I have never heard a more stunning artist in my life."
Lewis appeared in his hometown, drove up to the house in a luxury car, hugged his parents and sisters and said that they would no longer have to work. He bought them a new house and, since his father wasn't used to sitting back, a farm, and a black Cadillac to drive from home to farm. Jerry visited his school, from which he almost got kicked out, and gave a concert there. The mayor gave Jerry Lee Lewis the keys to the farm.
In America, he reached the top: he became the number one star, surpassing Presley and all black musicians. He had only to conquer Europe, and he would have become a world star. In European countries, his records sold out as well as in the States, and Jerry went to England. However, instead of a winner, he returned defeated: a huge scandal erupted in England due to the fact that Lewis was married to a 13-year-old girl and had not divorced his previous wives.
In America, this did not shock anyone: here girls often got married very early. But under British law, Jerry committed a serious crime. His concerts were boycotted, articles appeared daily in the newspapers, the authors of which demanded that Lewis be expelled from the country. He was called the "kidnapper of babies", "the defiler of children's souls." Journalists asked him questions like "Is it proper for a man to marry a little girl?"
Jerry Lee did not understand this attitude of the British towards his personal life. To the questions of journalists, he answered in confusion: “Come on! She is a woman like everyone else!” Mira was asked: “God, Mrs. Lewis, is it too early to get married at this age?”, To which the girl replied: “Oh, no, not at all. Here (in America) age does not play a special role. You can get married at ten if you find a husband.” Yet the tour had to be cut short and Lewis was expelled from the UK.
After such a high-profile scandal, the musician was also shunned at home: he was less and less invited to television, his songs stopped playing on the radio, etc. In addition, he could not compose anything amazing, like the first few hits. Fewer and fewer people came to his concerts, he began to drink, take drugs, perform in small concert halls, and then in clubs and bars.
The star of Jerry Lee Lewis - the greatest musician of rock and roll - has sunk. In addition, new stars arrived in America - The Beatles. The whole country began to frantically buy their CDs, grow their hair. The newspapers began to write about a new word in music. Jerry Lee read rave reviews and just shrugged his shoulders: he had already said all these “new words in music” before them.
It seemed that Lewis's career was finally over. All his property will soon go under the hammer for debts. In conclusion, Jerry Lee came to Elvis Presley at three o'clock in the morning, began to quarrel, demand that he be let in, brandish a gun. The guard called the police, and Lewis was arrested. True, he was soon released on bail, and a day later he ended up in a clinic with a diagnosis of "nervous exhaustion." It couldn't go on like this anymore.
Leaving the hospital, Lewis announced that from now on he would stop playing in bars because they sold booze, would play a religious hymn after every concert, and that he was giving his talent into the hands of God. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a preacher with two friends. Both friends really became priests, and Jerry became interested in music. But now he finally had the opportunity to return to religion. However, this mood did not last long: very soon he began to drink again.
But his career went uphill: he abandoned rock and roll, defiantly cut off his gorgeous long and thick hair, while everyone else grew it, and began to sing country music. He was again invited to television, his songs were heard on the radio, and in 1966 he released a new disc called "Country Songs". Jerry again began to perform throughout America, went on tour in Europe.
But if Lewis's career went uphill again, then his personal life, on the contrary, did not work out. His son Steve Allen drowned in the pool. In 1970, Mira filed for divorce. At the trial, she stated that the reason for the divorce was her husband's numerous infidelities, and presented so much evidence (in order to find them, Mira specially hired two detectives) that they were divorced on the same day. Three years later, the second son, Jerry, died.
After his divorce from Mira, Jerry Lee married twice more, but he seemed to be pursued by evil fate: both wives died. The fourth wife died in 1981 from a drug overdose, at the same time the musician himself almost went to the next world, having survived a severe heart attack. Some blamed Lewis for the death of his wife, as he was next to her at the moment when she died. But in reality, no evidence of Jerry Lee's guilt was found. As soon as the newspaper hype subsided, Keeler remarried, but the fifth wife died in 1983.
However, the black streak finally passed: in 1984, the musician married again, and the sixth marriage was successful. His chosen one was Kerry Lynn Macarver. With her help, he got rid of his bad habits.
Despite his advanced age, Jerry Lee Lewis continues to make music. In 1995, he released the disc "Young Blood", which, in terms of originality and quality, is not inferior to the albums of previous years. The musician continues to perform, play country music, and sometimes performs his early rock and roll. He is full of energy. Proof of this is the fact that the musician, who turned 65 in 2000, announced his decision to divorce. He lived with Kerry for 17 years, and she was not only his wife, but also the director of his music company. But their personal relationship ended. It is possible that in the future the legend of rock and roll and country music will again go down the aisle.
This text is an introductory piece.
