The singer and pianist, known among other things for the classic “Great Balls of Fire”, died of natural causes at the age of 87 at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, his agent announced on Friday. His seventh wife, Judith Coghlan Lewis, was by his side. Jerry Lee Lewis was considered one of the most influential artists in music history.
Most recently, however, he had to struggle with health problems, including after a stroke in 2019. Before that, Lewis, who was born in Ferriday in the US state of Louisiana in 1935 and was nicknamed “The Killer”, had been on stage even in old age and delighted his fans. Along with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, Lewis was considered one of the kings of rock ‘n’ roll. The musician was married seven times and had six children, two of whom had died before him.
Lewis was one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll, he was a friend and at the same time a competitor to Elvis Presley. He had his big break in 1957 with the hit “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” the lyrics of which were so provocative that some radio stations didn’t want to play it at first. It was followed by hits like “Great Balls of Fire” – one of his biggest successes and later the title of a film about him with actor Dennis Quaid – and “Breathless”.
The musician with the blond curls not only created numerous hits, but also regularly made headlines with his wild lifestyle. His life was shaped by many women’s stories, excessive alcohol consumption and tax disputes. During his high-energy performances, Lewis often banged the piano and sometimes jumped on the instrument.
Source: Nachrichten
