R.I.P Jerry Lee Lewis, rock and roll pioneer
To anyone who is a fan of rock or any of the countless musical genres that've spun out, Jerry Lee Lewis should be a household name. With his indellible piano licks and country-inspired vocals, Lewis would go on to be an influential voice in the shaping of what rock and roll would become, along with his contemporary Elvis Presley.
According to The New York Times, Lewis was 21 when he got his start in 1957, walking into Sun Studios and "demanding an audition". This would turn out well for Lewis, as Sun would sign him soon afterward.
Lewis would burst onto the scene with his regional hit "Crazy Arms" and soon follow up with his smash hit "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" after. In November of the same year, Lewis would release "Great Balls of Fire" quickly becoming a rock and roll anthem.
After, Lewis would try to reinvent himself by returning to his country roots and signing with Smash Records. Though he would gain moderate success as a country singer, it wouldn't be the same as the rock and roll days.
For his successes, Jerry Lee Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022. He would perform well into his later years and have success as a country singer, but Lewis would always hold rock and roll close to his heart.
Jerry Lee Lewis passed away on October 28, 2022 in at his home in DeSoto County, Mississippi at age 87.