Jerry Lee Lewis, original wild man of rock ‘n’ roll, dies at 87
Jerry Lee Lewis, the original wild man of rock ‘n’ roll whose explosive records, fiery performances and real-life scandals made him one of the genre’s most fascinating and fearsome figures, died Friday at his home outside Memphis, Tennessee.
Lewis’ publicist announced the singer’s death in a statement, following a premature report of his demise from TMZ earlier in the week.
The cause of death was not revealed. Lewis, who was 87, had been hospitalized in early 2019 after suffering a stroke, forcing him to cancel his planned spring and summer concerts. He missed his induction into the Country Hall of Fame this month while battling the flu.
A brash backwoods maverick with a wavy blond pompadour and an arrogant sneer, Lewis brought nervy authority and a personal stamp to his unruly concoction of country, gospel, and rhythm and blues.
The singer-pianist’s first two hits, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” were definitive incarnations of rock ‘n’ roll’s primal allure.
John Lennon referred to “Whole Lotta Shakin’” as “the perfect rock ‘n’ roll record.” Elton John adopted Lewis’ signature maneuver of kicking the piano bench across the stage.
But Lewis’ influence transcended the music. He was the prototype of the hard-rocking, hard-living renegade, and his example of audacity and independence became a part of rock’s DNA.
His music and his life also embraced some of the great dichotomies of the American experience — notably,
