A friend and rival of Elvis Presley, Lewis’ career spanned more than half a century and produced a wealth of eyebrow-raising stories about his numerous wives — including a teenage cousin — drunken rampages and run-ins with the government over back taxes
Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the most influential rock and roll pianists in the 20th century. | Photograph Courtesy of Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis, a scandal-generating kingpin of 1950s American rock and roll who played a pivotal role in shaping the genre's sound, died on 28 October. He was 87.
Famous for his flowing blond locks, rowdy piano beats and outrageous stage presence, the star best known for his classic "Great Balls of Fire" died of natural causes, his publicist told AFP.
"He is ready to leave," an accompanying statement quoted the artist's wife Judith.
The statement mentioned Lewis suffered years of illnesses and injuries: "He had abused his body so thoroughly as a young man, he was given little chance of lasting through middle age, let alone old age."
A friend and rival of Elvis Presley, Lewis' career spanned more than half a century and produced a wealth of eyebrow -raising stories about his numerous wives — including a teenage cousin — drunken rampages and run-ins with the government over back taxes.
He also produced a string of indelible hits.
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Born on 29 September 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, Lewis took to the keys at age nine. The following year, his parents Elmo and Mamie mortgaged the family farm to buy him an upright piano.
Along with his cousins Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart — who would respectively go on to become an award-winning country musician and a scandal-tainted evangelist — Lewis spent hours perfecting his craft.
Provocative lyrics
In 1956, Lewis struck out for Memphis, Tennessee — the southern American city famous as a cradle of soul, blues and rock — to link up with the producer Sam Phillips at Sun Records, who was instrumental in Presley's astronomical rise.
Lewis, Presley and Johnny Cash got together with Carl Perkins at the studio for the "Million Dollar Quartet" jam session that year, which was released much later to acclaim.
Lewis soared to fame the next year with his breakout hit "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"— whose provocative lyrics shocked some radio stations that at first refused to play it.
"It was just another song to me," he told The New York Times in 2006. "The girls went a little berserk, but that's girls for you."
