Jerry Lee Lewis was born on September 29, 1935 into a very religious family . His family, though not very wealthy, sold their house when he was a child to get their son a piano. He loved to play piano. He was sent to a religious school, but was soon thrown out shortly thereafter -- he did a boogie version of a song about Jesus, something the school could not accept. At 17, he married for the first time, but it only lasted seven months. He married a second time three weeks before he his divorce from his first wife was final. His second marriage lasted about four years and produced his first child. In November 1956 he moved in with a cousin, J. W. Brown, in Memphis. They started a band together, with Jerry as singer. They sold a copy of their first song, "Crazy Arms", to the legendary 'Sam Phillips , they forgave Jerry. The marriage was unknown to the press and fans until Jerry's arrival in England for a tour in the spring of 1958. Fans again stormed the stage -- but this time to express their disgust. The marriage was front-page news around the world. His career was in shambles. He had just signed a five-year contract with Sun Records, and he did continue to record songs until 1963. During the last years of the contract, however, he made very few rock songs. Most of his compositions were ballads, possibly due to his depression at the direction his career had taken. Jerry and Myra had one son, Steve Allen Lewis, who drowned at age three. The couple divorced in 1970, after 13 years of bad treatment in the press. However, Jerry's career was not completely finished. In 1968 he made his great comeback, as a country singer. During the next few years, he performed more and more rock 'n' roll. He married a fourth time in October 1971 but the marriage ended two years later, after producing one child. That same year, Jerry's son from his first marriage died in an auto accident. The combination of divorce, personal tragedies and his career stagnation contributed to his turning to the bottle, and for the next 15 years Jerry had a severe drinking problem. His drinking also contributed to a rash of health problems, and he almost died of a ruptured stomach in 1981. People thought that The Killer was finished. But he wasn't. Jerry Lee Lewis puts on brilliant concerts even today, in his 70's, and with his wild life behind him. He divorced his sixth wife in the summer of 2005, after over 20 years of marriage. He is still a wild man - and he is still on fire!
At her ten-year high school reunion, Janis Joplin introduced her younger sister to Lewis, who was a guest. Lewis commented to her that "you wouldnt be half-bad-looking if you werent trying to look like your sister." Janis slugged Lewis for the comment. Lewis slugged her back, saying, "If youre gonna act like a man, Im gonna treat you like one!".
His eldest son, Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. (b. 1953), was killed in an auto accident in 1973. His second son, Steven Allen Lewis (b. 1959), drowned, at age three, in 1962.
Cousin of Jimmy Swaggart and Mickey Gilley.
Almost died from a ruptured stomach in 1981.
Parents names were Elmo Lewis and Mamie Ethel.
His first cousin, once removed Myra Lewis was 13 years old when they married.
Revitalized his career in the late 1960s as a country singer.
He was voted the 24th Greatest Rock n Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone.
He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammy Awards in 2005.
Hospitalized with pneumonia in 2001.
Was on the critical list in a Memphis hospital in November 1985.
He currently lives in Booneville, Mississippi, USA.
Is portrayed by Dennis Quaid in Great Balls of Fire! , by Waylon Payne in Walk the Line , and James C. Victor in Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story .
Recorded with legendary Nashville session guitarist Hank Garland.
Recorded his song "Whatd I Say" with guitarist Hank Garland.
Along with Elvis Presley , Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins , Lewis was a member of the celebrated "Million Dollar Quartet", so named because they were moneymakers for Sam Phillips Sun Records label.
Hated his ex-wife Myra Lewis biographical book about his life entitled "Great Balls of Fire".
Hated the film based on his life, Great Balls of Fire! .
Was in the process of finalizing a divorce from his fourth wife, Jaren, when she drowned in a swimming pool in 1982. They had separated in 1974.
By the time of the British Invasion in the United States, there was a keen interest in American rock stars in Great Britain. Jerry Lee appeared to have renewed his career on that side of the Atlantic. He appeared on the television show "Ready, Steady, Go!" , and the fans were mesmerized by his performance.
Siblings: Linda Gail Lewis (b. 1947), Frankie Jean Lewis (b. 1944) and Elmo Lewis Jr.
Father, with Kerri McCarver, of a boy named Jerry Lee Lewis III (b. 1987).
Father, with Myra, of a boy named Steven Allen Lewis (1959-1962) and a girl named Phoebe Allen Lewis (b. 1963).
Father, with Jane Mitchum, of two boys named Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. (1953-1973) and Ronnie Guy Lewis (b. 1956).
Contrary to public assumption, Lewis said that he actually had the nickname "Killer" ever since childhood. As a boy, he had the habit of calling acquaintances and friends "Killer", and they would return the greeting. The nickname has stuck with him since.
His 1964 album "Live at the Star Club, Hamburg" has been widely hailed as the hardest, pure rock n roll ever recorded.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6631 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2008.
The use of his middle name Lee, helped the record buying public as well as record distributors distinguish him from comedian Jerry Lewis , who in 1956, at the height of his career, had a Top 10 recording with "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody", a song first made famous by Al Jolson. That same year, Jerry Lewis also has a bestselling album. Coincidentally, both Jerry and Jerry Lee have cited Al Jolson, seen playing the piano in The Jazz Singer , as a major influence.
By the time Jerry Lee made his made first appearance July 27, 1957 on "The Steve Allen Show" , he had already caught the publics attention, "in name only". One year earlier, in 1956, comedian Jerry Lewis embarked on what was initially a successful recording career. He had a #10 US Pop hit with the Al Jolson standard "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody", in addition to a bestselling LP of standard tunes. Coincidentally, Jerry Lee has cited Al Jolson as one of his influences.
On September 27, 1957, he played New York Citys legendary Apollo Theater.
(April 2002) Lewis and his wife Kerrie announced their separation and intent to divorce.
On October 15, 2004, he performed in Prague, the Czech Republic and refused a meeting with the Czech president. On October 18, he was on stage in Sofia, Bulgaria and refused to give an interview for the National Television.
He currently goes by the name Jerry Lee Lewis to avoid counfusion with actor Jerry Lewis.
I am right. I`m always right. One time I thought I was wrong, I found out I was right.
