Jerry Lee Lewis, the world-famous rock and roll and country musician died at 87. On Friday, Lewis’ publicist, Zach Farnum, confirmed the Hall of Famer’s passing. Lee leaves behind a rocky legacy some musicians can only dream of achieving.
As a singer, songwriter, and pianist, Lewis dazzled crowds with infectious energy and theatrical piano playing technique. On stage, Lewis appeared to merge with his instrument, becoming one with the music he loved to share with the world. Watching Lewis on stage, you’d think he was performing an exorcism on stage, as each note caused his bones to gyrate with rhythm. Famously known for his hit song “Great Balls of Fire,” Lewis dabbled in rockabilly, gospel, country, blues, and jazz. There was scarcely a genre Lewis wouldn’t explore, and he shined while creating unique soundscapes in all categories.
Lewis came onto the music scene in 1956 with a hit called “Crazy Arms.
As a singer, songwriter, and pianist, Lewis dazzled crowds with infectious energy and theatrical piano playing technique. On stage, Lewis appeared to merge with his instrument, becoming one with the music he loved to share with the world. Watching Lewis on stage, you’d think he was performing an exorcism on stage, as each note caused his bones to gyrate with rhythm. Famously known for his hit song “Great Balls of Fire,” Lewis dabbled in rockabilly, gospel, country, blues, and jazz. There was scarcely a genre Lewis wouldn’t explore, and he shined while creating unique soundscapes in all categories.
Lewis came onto the music scene in 1956 with a hit called “Crazy Arms.
- 10/28/2022
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Rock music pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis has died at the age of 87. The “Great Balls of Fire” singer’s death was misreported by some news outlets on Wednesday, October 26. Lewis’ representative, Zach Farnum, confirmed his death on Friday, October 28. A cause of death has not been shared. “Judith, his seventh wife, was by his side when he passed away at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis,” Farnum said in a statement. “He told her, in his final days, that he welcomed the hereafter, and that he was not afraid.” Born in East Louisiana on September 19, 1935, Lewis taught himself how to play piano when he was 8 years old. He moved to Memphis in 1956 to audition for the owner of Sun Records, Sam Phillips. Phillips was the first person to record Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins. After recording his debut single, a cover of Ray Price’s “Crazy Arms,...
- 10/28/2022
- TV Insider
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Jerry Lee Lewis, the flamboyant rock ‘n’ roll founding father, swaggering country shouter and 2005 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, died Friday. He was 87.
Lewis died of natural causes at his home in DeSoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis, his publicist, Zach Farnum of 117 Group, told The Hollywood Reporter. TMZ prematurely reported his death earlier this week.
Nicknamed “The Killer,” Lewis was an electric performer who was still performing into his late 80s. Known for such rock standards as “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Baby Baby Bye Bye,” “Breathless” and “High School Confidential,” he accumulated 10 gold records during his career, with his biggest, the 2006 all-star duets release Last Man Standing, selling more than a half-million units worldwide.
As a piano player — and unabashed rock star — Lewis blended rockabilly, gospel, blues and country as he feverishly pounded the higher keys with his right hand.
Jerry Lee Lewis, the flamboyant rock ‘n’ roll founding father, swaggering country shouter and 2005 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, died Friday. He was 87.
Lewis died of natural causes at his home in DeSoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis, his publicist, Zach Farnum of 117 Group, told The Hollywood Reporter. TMZ prematurely reported his death earlier this week.
Nicknamed “The Killer,” Lewis was an electric performer who was still performing into his late 80s. Known for such rock standards as “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Baby Baby Bye Bye,” “Breathless” and “High School Confidential,” he accumulated 10 gold records during his career, with his biggest, the 2006 all-star duets release Last Man Standing, selling more than a half-million units worldwide.
As a piano player — and unabashed rock star — Lewis blended rockabilly, gospel, blues and country as he feverishly pounded the higher keys with his right hand.
- 10/28/2022
- by Jennifer Frederick
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jerry Lee Lewis has died at age 87.
The “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” singer, pianist, and songwriter passed away in Mississippi.
“Judith, his seventh wife, was by his side when he passed away at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis,” Lewis’ representative Zach Farnum said in a statement shared with press. “He told her, in his final days, that he welcomed the hereafter, and that he was not afraid.”
Known as “The Killer” for the way Lewis would knock out audiences with his raw talent, the crooner skyrocketed to fame in 1957 after “Great Balls of Fire” debuted with the film “Jamboree.” The hit song played a key component in “Top Gun,” with Tom Cruise’s Maverick and Anthony Edwards’ Goose singing it on the piano in one of the iconic scenes from the 1986 film. The song is ranked as the 96th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone.
The “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” singer, pianist, and songwriter passed away in Mississippi.
“Judith, his seventh wife, was by his side when he passed away at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis,” Lewis’ representative Zach Farnum said in a statement shared with press. “He told her, in his final days, that he welcomed the hereafter, and that he was not afraid.”
Known as “The Killer” for the way Lewis would knock out audiences with his raw talent, the crooner skyrocketed to fame in 1957 after “Great Balls of Fire” debuted with the film “Jamboree.” The hit song played a key component in “Top Gun,” with Tom Cruise’s Maverick and Anthony Edwards’ Goose singing it on the piano in one of the iconic scenes from the 1986 film. The song is ranked as the 96th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone.
- 10/28/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the pioneers of rock ‘n roll and a Hall of Fame member in several genres, died Friday morning at age 87. Lewis died at a home in Memphis, Tn, his publicist Zach Farnum said in a release.
Nicknamed “The Killer,” Lewis’s work as a singer, songwriter, and pianist was marked by a frenetic energy that often saw him standing on his keyboard or bending over as if trying to inhale its essence. He stands in the pantheon of rock ‘n roll’s greatest artists, but also crossed over to rockabilly, gospel, country, blues and even jazz. Although he rarely wrote his own songs, his interpretation was his strength, as his keyboard dexterity and barely controlled passion transformed each work into something special.
Related: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery
Lewis made his first recordings in 1956 at the legendary Sun Records in Memphis. That first...
Nicknamed “The Killer,” Lewis’s work as a singer, songwriter, and pianist was marked by a frenetic energy that often saw him standing on his keyboard or bending over as if trying to inhale its essence. He stands in the pantheon of rock ‘n roll’s greatest artists, but also crossed over to rockabilly, gospel, country, blues and even jazz. Although he rarely wrote his own songs, his interpretation was his strength, as his keyboard dexterity and barely controlled passion transformed each work into something special.
Related: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery
Lewis made his first recordings in 1956 at the legendary Sun Records in Memphis. That first...
- 10/28/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Paramount+ revealed earlier this week that it had a series adaptation of John Travolta movie Urban Cowboy in the works. Now, the wild, true story that inspired the 1980 film is also being developed for television.
The rise and fall of country music icon Mickey Gilley’s football field-sized Texan honky tonk is being set up as a limited series with Philip Levens, creator of Syfy miniseries Ascension and Smallville writer, serving as showrunner for a series that comes from Michael Becker of Worth producer Imprint Entertainment and Joel Carpenter of Jc Productions.
The latter pair optioned Gilley’s life rights and will tell the story of what’s been described as the “the Studio54 of the West”, the center of the cowboy universe in 1978.
With a capacity of 6,000, the largest honky-tonk on the planet was frequented by an assortment of patrons that ranged from oilfield roughnecks to movie stars.
The rise and fall of country music icon Mickey Gilley’s football field-sized Texan honky tonk is being set up as a limited series with Philip Levens, creator of Syfy miniseries Ascension and Smallville writer, serving as showrunner for a series that comes from Michael Becker of Worth producer Imprint Entertainment and Joel Carpenter of Jc Productions.
The latter pair optioned Gilley’s life rights and will tell the story of what’s been described as the “the Studio54 of the West”, the center of the cowboy universe in 1978.
With a capacity of 6,000, the largest honky-tonk on the planet was frequented by an assortment of patrons that ranged from oilfield roughnecks to movie stars.
- 2/3/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
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