Jerry Lee Lewis can light up a piano like nobody else. His fingers are like lightning hitting those piano keys. I'm a big fan of his music. Jerry Lee's music spans from rock 'n' roll to country. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked the Killer #24 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time. Jerry Lee still performs to this day at the age of 74.
While definitely a musical talent, he's probably just as known for all the scandal he's been through over the years. He had problems with booze and drugs. He's also been married 6 times. One of those times was to a 13 year old cousin of his. That marriage pretty much ended his career in rock music back in the late 1950's.
Two of his future wives would die (one drowned in a swimming pool and the other died of a drug overdose). His early career and marriage with Myra, his 13 year old cousin/wife, was seen in the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire (starring Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder). He's definitely lived the lifestyle of sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll. He's certainly not lived the life of a role model, but he's had some incredible music. I wanted to share some of those tunes with you. I hope you enjoy them.
Great Balls Of Fire:
Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On:
High School Confidential:
Crazy Arms:
She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye:
Chantilly Lace:
The Wild One:
Breathless:
Pink Cadillac:
60 comments:
He's one of those iconic musicians. A little scandal and a lot of talent.
JW was a musical clown, and I understand his value - over there o;))
Good morning, very very early, from Southern Sweden & me .... Agneta
yup, he had some great music, and i even liked the movie about him. but PERVY PERVY PERVY with the young cousin. EGADS! perhaps mentally stilted, or something, but definitely talented.
Oh he's talented, but it scares me that he was married to a kid. He should have been locked up for that.
xx
rad videos! you and youtube never cease to amaze me. and thank for joining my facebook page :)
xo Niki
http://ahautemess.blogspot.com
I grew up in Memphis, Tn. where Jerry Lee was a local hero. And every weekend the police arrested him for something. He was a wild man. But you gotta love him!
He sure is a legend. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the mind of an artist, as he thinks in an unconventional way. That is what is so intriguing.;)
Have a great Wednesday.;)
He is a musical genius, too bad fame and fortune got in the way. He could have been a great inspiration. I loved Great Balls of Fire, still do up to now.
this is a person i would have loved to listen to all live!
I really love Jerry Lee Lewis! Keith, did U see the Jerry Lee Lewis movie? I think the movie is HBO production and his wife is Winona Ryder in the movie.
X♥X♥
Great Balls of Fire, oh yeah! I love it!
XoXo
Love, love, love Breathless!
Hey E.K. Great way to describe Jerry Lee. Thanks.
Hey Agneta. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Cheers!
Hey Droll. Thanks for commenting. Yeah, the cousin thing probably did his career in. The only thing I'll say about it is that he wasn't doing anything that many others in that era weren't doing. Many girls were getting married that young. People married their cousins. That's just how it was. He was the one made an example of for better or worse.
Hey Dustjacket. Thanks for commenting. Whether you should be able to marry someone that young or not, the fact is that many people got married that young back then. I know many girls in my own family and a lot of others I know got married back when they were 13-15. It was a different era.
Hey Niki. Thanks. Thank God for youtube. There are so many great clips out there.
Hey Max. Thanks for commenting. I've only been to Memphis like once in my life. I loved it. I read a recent article about Jerry Lee that inspired this post. He definitely seemed to stay in trouble.
Hey Protege. Thanks. So true. Many times artists do things that other people don't quite understand at all.
Hey Leah. Thanks. Jerry Lee has lived quite a life. He's lived more life in one lifetime than if you take a whole gang of people. He has made some rotten choices over the years.
Hey Insider. I would love to hear him live. I still would.
Hey Janet. Thanks for commenting. Oh yeah. I love that movie. I saw it countless times. I even bought the soundtrack.
Hey Jill. I love Breathless.
I love the Killer. Man, he can certainly play that piano. Plus what a voice. He's definitely lived quite a life. Not always done the right thing, but that's what makes him interesting. I know that marrying his 13 year old cousin sunk his career back in the day. Both my grandmothers actually got married around that age.
Hey Wolf. I know about you mean about Jerry Lee's music. Those are some timeless tunes in my opinion. He still shouldn't have married quite so young, but girls were getting married that young. One of my grandmothers got married at 15. He should have found a girl at least a couple of years older, but there were plenty of girls getting married that young. He had to figure it wouldn't help his career, plus she was his cousin. Even though people married their cousins then and now.
He is an amazing talent and for sure has lived the stereotypical "Rock Star Lifestyle"!
Excellent bio and tunes, K!
I didn't know JLL was married 6 times and that two of his wives died so tragically...
Love Chantilly Lace!
xoxox,
CC
Great clips. I remember seeing the movie about his life. Very interesting, and also unusual man.
Hey Maggi. He definitely lived the sex, drugs & rock 'n roll lifestyle.
Hey Carrie. Thanks. Glad to see you like Jerry Lee. I'm happy that I could share some stuff with you that you didn't know.
Hey Housewife. Thanks. He definitely hasn't lived a boring life.
These are all great songs. I love Crazy Arms. My grandfather always listened to that. It reminds me of him.
Hey Phoebe. I love that song too. That's cool that it reminds you of your granddad.
You're right Keith a phenomenal player and raw natural talent. Couple of other nuggets worth checking out are
Rocking My Life Away - featuring Elvis' guitarist James Burton on Lead. And The Killer's cover of Frankie Ford's Sea Cruise
Hey Dave. Thanks for commenting. Jerry Lee is something else. I'll be sure to check out those tunes you mentioned.
Such a fab. player!
all my kisses Keith!
Thanks Kira. Cheers!
This was the only guy I could listen to and not get made fun of for. Because my friends seemed to view him as the Axl Rose of his time.
Yeah, marrying his 13 year old cousin is pervy. But at least he actually married her and wanted to make a life with her. Not like a certain director whom drugs them with qualudes and rapes them, then flees to Europe.
And like already said, girls did get married that young. My mom, whom grew up during that time period, says that back then if a girl wasn't married by 19 she was often seen as an old maid.
I don't know if any of you actually read Myra's book, Great Balls Of Fire, but to her Jerry must've been a bit of a hero. She was worried she'd never get married because her neighbor came into the house one day and raped her in her parents' bed. Then along comes Jerry willing to marry her even though she admitted to him that she was "ruined."
I've actually seen Jerry Lee in concert a few times when he performed at Knott's Berry Farm. Quite the guy. I think if the piano had been bigger he would've stood on it. He just couldn't really cut loose on it. I guess it was some type of electric keyboard made to look like a piano. It was one forth the size of a baby grand with spindly metal legs.
Hey Jami. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It was great hearing from you. Yeah, I guess you could definitely say Jerry Lee was the Axl of his generation. He could probably show Axl a thing or two about living a wild life.
Yeah, he did at least marry Myra. He didn't just sleep with her or even worse rape her. Girls did get married that young back then whether we like it or not. That's just the way things were. I've heard plenty of women from that era talk about getting married that young. Something was wrong if you weren't married by the time you were 18/19.
I've never read Myra's book, but I'd love to. That's so cool that you've actually seen him in concert. I've never had that pleasure. Thanks again for your comment. Cheers!
wow, such great songs. really wunderful.
He is an individual. You seem to like those, which is a good quality to have.
Do you remember the bit in the film when he told England what it could go do?
!
Thanks Knall. Glad you liked these tunes. Cheers!
Hey Clarity. Thanks for commenting. Yes, I love individuals. I love people who don't conform to the masses. I love what he told England. lol
Awesome post Keith! My sis and I love love his music.♥
I like this! Great. Jerry Lee Rules!!
i like him for his talent.... : ) hope you are having a fabulous day.
Goodness gracious!!! Whooop!!! :)
Great collection of videos. That's quite a life JLL has led!! Can't deny his talent, though.
Very talented guy - perhaps a little ahead of his time? I saw that movie a while back Denis Quaide was very good I thought. Great post Keith - I love learning more about interesting folk!!
Hey Gabbi. Thanks. That's cool that you and your sis are fans.
Hey Tommy. Thanks. Jerry Lee definitely rules.
Hey Savvy. Thanks. There's no denying his talent.
Hey Tights. He's definitely lived a life full of ups and downs.
Thanks Lance. Cheers!
Hey Sam. Thanks. I definitely think Jerry Lee was probably ahead of his time. I don't think the 50's knew what to make of him.
Cool dude;) Love his style unique... there is no word for him actually
great post, xoxo
What a terrific post, Keith. I remember watching Great Balls of Fire as a child and being scared a bit of Jerry's intense mood swings - and also of the idea of a 13 year old getting married!
I love your line near the bottom of this post, "He's certainly not lived the life of a role model, but he's had some incredible music." Wonderfully said, I couldn't agree more.
♥ Jessica
KEITH YOU CAN POST ABOUT JERRY LEE ANYTIME....HIS MUSIC MOVES ME LIKE NO OTHER. MY FAVORITE OF THE 50"S & 60'S ERA. I COULD WATCH THE MOVIE "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE" WITH DENNIS QUAID OVER AND OVER, AND DID DENNIS EVER DO SUCH A GOOD JOB DEPICTING JERRY LEE'S CHARACTER. THANKS FOR THE GREAT POST. BREATHLESS!!!
Hey, you better watch out for that killer. HAHA, just kidding. Love the post. I can't help but love Dennis Quaid as him in that movie. Jerry was kind of crazy, but what an artist. Nobody can play piano like he could.
He is an amazing musician. But his marrying his young cousin always disturbed me.
lululetty.blogspot.com
I always have enjoyed watching Jerry POUND on those ivory's! He played the piano with such passion and flair. Don't know of anyone who can even come close besides sir Elton John.
wow to the bit about him marrying his 13yr old cousin!scandal!
you always do the best posts
xx
m
eeeewwwwww his 13-year-old cousin?! Creepo McCreeperson!
Gotta admit, he was pretty darn clever back in the day, amazing how he pushed the limits in society. He must have been truly scandalous
Hey Lore. Thanks. Glad to see you like him.
Hey Fashion. Thanks. Cheers!
Hey Jessica. Thanks. I love that movie about him. He's definitely lived quite a wild life. He's certainly not someone to pattern your life after, but he's lived a fascinating life though.
Hey Atomic Gem. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It was great hearing from you. That's cool that you're such a fan. I really love Jerry Lee. I want to post about him more in the future. He's my favorite of those artists of the 50's.
Hey Steph. Thanks. Dennis did do a great job as the Killer. You know how much I love that movie. Jerry Lee is quite the wild man. He's so talented. It's so unbelievable how he hits those keys.
Hey Maria. Yeah, I think marrying his young cousin freaked a lot of people out.
Hey Dad. Thanks. I don't think anybody ever had the connection with the piano quite like Jerry Lee. He's a master at it.
Hey Marian. Thanks for commenting. He's definitely lived a scandal filled life.
Hey Clare. LOL I know what you mean.
Hey Amy. Thanks for commenting. Jerry Lee did what he wanted. To hell with the consequences. He's lived life on his own terms.
Great balls of fire! What a song! I am not that found of Jerry Lee's music, but that tune is definitely one of my favorites!
Great post as usual Keith! Your blog posts make my day : D
Hey Maria. Thanks. I appreciate that. Have a great weekend. Cheers!
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