Jerry Lee Lewis was an American rock 'n' roll musician known for his wild performances and energetic piano playing.
He recorded his first tracks in 1952 and became a star with hits like "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire."
Lewis received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his significant impact on music.
Biography
Early Life
Jerry Lee Lewis was born on September 29, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, to Elmo Kidd Lewis Sr. and Mary "Mamie" Herron Lewis. Growing up in an impoverished farming family, he was introduced to music at a young age, playing piano alongside his cousins, Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart. His parents even mortgaged their farm to buy him a piano, which set the stage for his musical journey. Lewis made his first public performance at the age of 14, showcasing his talent with a rendition of R&B artist Stick McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee". His early influences included the sounds from a local juke joint and the music of his cousin, Carl McVoy.
Career
Lewis's career took off in 1952 when he recorded his first tracks at J&M Studio in New Orleans. However, it was his time at Sun Records in Memphis that truly defined his legacy. After auditioning in 1956, he recorded hits like "Crazy Arms" and the iconic "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", which catapulted him to fame. Known for his wild performances, Lewis often played the piano with his fists and feet, earning him the nickname "The Killer". His unique style and energetic shows made him a pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, influencing countless artists in the genre.
Legacy
Throughout his career, Lewis received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His recordings, such as the original cut of "Great Balls of Fire", have been recognized in the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, solidifying his status as a music legend. Jerry Lee Lewis passed away on October 28, 2022, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of rock 'n' roll's first great wild men.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Odd Man In1975
- 1.Don't Boogie Woogie (When You Say Your Prayers Tonight)2:39
- 2.Shake, Rattle and Roll2:59
- 3.You Ought to See My Mind2:27
- 4.I Don't Want to Be Lonely Tonight3:18
- 5.That Kind of Fool2:29
- 6.Goodnight Irene3:46
- 7.A Damn Good Country Song2:09
- 8.Jerry's Place2:33
- 9.When I Take My Vacation in Heaven3:08
- 10.Crawdad Song3:08
- 11.Your Cheatin' Heart2:50
Boogie Woogie Country Man1975
- 1.I’m Still Jealous of You3:06
- 2.A Little Peace and Harmony2:22
- 3.Jesus Is on the Main Line2:07
- 4.Forever Forgiving2:10
- 5.(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You2:53
- 6.Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)2:12
- 7.I Can Still Hear the Music in the Restroom2:28
- 8.Love Inflation2:40
- 9.I Was Sorta Wonderin’2:34
- 10.Thanks for Nothing2:12
- 11.Boogie Woogie Country Man3:40
I-40 Country1974
- 1.He Can’t Fill My Shoes2:34
- 2.Tell Tale Signs2:28
- 3.A Picture From Life’s Other Side3:43
- 4.I Hate Goodbyes2:32
- 5.I’ve Forgot More About You (Than He’ll Ever Know)3:03
- 6.Tomorrow’s Taking Baby Away3:19
- 7.Cold, Cold Morning Light3:09
- 8.The Alcohol of Fame2:30
- 9.Where Would I Be3:04
- 10.Bluer Words2:20
- 11.Room Full of Roses2:34
Sometimes a Memory Ain’t Enough1973
- 1.Sometimes a Memory Ain’t Enough2:52
- 2.Ride Me Down Easy2:45
- 3.Mama’s Hands3:42
- 4.What My Woman Can’t Do2:25
- 5.My Cricket and Me2:08
- 6.I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone2:17
- 7.Honky Tonk Wine4:31
- 8.Falling to the Bottom2:33
- 9.I Think I Need to Pray2:43
- 10.The Morning After Baby Let Me Down3:19
- 11.Keep Me From Blowing Away2:34
Southern Roots1973
- 1.Meat Man2:50
- 2.When a Man Loves a Woman4:22
- 3.Hold on I'm Coming4:22
- 4.Just a Little Bit3:09
- 5.Born to Be a Loser2:57
- 6.The Haunted House2:50
- 7.Blueberry Hill2:51
- 8.The Revolutionary Man2:54
- 9.Big Blue Diamond4:20
- 10.That Old Bourbon Street Church3:24
The Session Recorded in London With Great Guest Artists1973
- 1.Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee3:37
- 2.Music to the Man4:40
- 3.Baby What You Want Me to Do3:58
- 4.Bad Moon Rising2:37
- 5.Sea Cruise3:53
- 6.Jukebox4:38
- 7.No Headstone on My Grave5:21
- 8.Big Boss Man3:42
- 9.Pledging My Love2:23
- 10.Memphis4:03
- 11.Trouble in Mind5:48
- 12.Johnny B. Goode3:30
- 13.High School Confidential3:27
- 14.Early Mornin’ Rain4:27
- 15.Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On4:00
- 16.Sixty Minute Man3:36
- 17.Movin’ On Down the Line3:28
- 18.What’d I Say4:58
- 19.Rock & Roll Medley: Good Golly Miss Molly / Long Tall Sally / Jenny, Jenny / Tutti Frutti / Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On3:50
Who’s Gonna Play This Old Piano1972
- 1.Who’s Gonna Play This Old Piano3:16
- 2.She’s Reachin’ for My Mind2:36
- 3.Too Many Rivers2:56
- 4.We Both Know Which One of Us Was Wrong3:32
- 5.Wall Around Heaven3:04
- 6.No More Hanging On3:10
- 7.Think About It Darlin’2:32
- 8.Bottom Dollar2:58
- 9.No Traffic Out of Abilene2:43
- 10.Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow2:57
- 11.The Mercy of a Letter3:29
The “Killer” Rocks On1972
- 1.Don’t Be Cruel1:57
- 2.You Can Have Her2:22
- 3.Games People Play2:33
- 4.Lonely Weekends1:45
- 5.You Don’t Miss Your Water2:31
- 6.Turn On Your Love Light2:26
- 7.Chantilly Lace2:50
- 8.C.C. Rider2:53
- 9.Walk a Mile in My Shoes3:03
- 10.Me and Bobby McGee3:13
- 11.Shutgun Man2:39
- 12.I’m Walkin’2:11
Touching Home1971
- 1.When He Walks on You (Like You Have Walked on Me)2:29
- 2.Time Changes Everything2:24
- 3.Help Me Make It Through the Night2:58
- 4.Mother, the Queen of My Heart3:02
- 5.Hearts Were Made for Beating2:34
- 6.Foolish Kind of Man2:33
- 7.Touching Home2:36
- 8.Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone2:23
- 9.You Helped Me Up (When the World Let Me Down)2:14
- 10.When Baby Gets the Blues2:48
- 11.Comin' Back for More2:54
Would You Take Another Chance on Me?1971
- 1.Would You Take Another Chance on Me2:51
- 2.Another Hand Shakin' Goodbye2:34
- 3.Swinging Doors2:48
- 4.Thirteen at the Table3:35
- 5.Big Blon' Baby2:03
- 6.Lonesome Fiddle Man2:30
- 7.Me and Bobby McGee3:12
- 8.For the Good Times3:41
- 9.Things That Matter Most to Me3:10
- 10.The Hurtin' Part2:24
- 11.The Goodbye of the Year2:12
She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye1970
- 1.Once More With Feeling2:24
- 2.Workin’ Man Blues2:52
- 3.Waiting for a Train1:58
- 4.Brown‐Eyed Handsome Man2:08
- 5.My Only Claim to Fame2:13
- 6.Since I Met You Baby2:45
- 7.She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye2:44
- 8.Wine Me Up2:21
- 9.When the Grass Grows Over Me2:41
- 10.You Went Out of Your Way (to Walk on Me)1:54
- 11.Echoes2:27
There Must Be More to Love Than This1970
- 1.There Must Be More to Love Than This2:41
- 2.Bottles and Barstools2:50
- 3.Reuben James2:43
- 4.I’d Be Talkin’ All the Time2:20
- 5.One More Time2:23
- 6.Sweet Georgia Brown2:27
- 7.Woman, Woman (Get Out of Our Way)3:15
- 8.I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know2:40
- 9.Foolaid3:36
- 10.Home Away From Home2:31
- 11.Life’s Little Up and Downs2:36
In Loving Memories: The Jerry Lee Lewis Gospel Album1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
She Still Comes Around (To Love What’s Left of Me)1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits, Vol. 11969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame Hits, Vol. 21969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Together1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Another Place Another Time1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Soul My Way1967
Tracklist not collected yet.
Memphis Beat1966
Tracklist not collected yet.
Country Songs for City Folks1965
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Return of Rock1965
Tracklist not collected yet.
Golden Hits of Jerry Lee Lewis1964
Tracklist not collected yet.
Jerry Lee’s Greatest!1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
Jerry Lee Lewis1958
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- MCA Records
- Record label
- Sun Records
- Record label
- Charly Records
- Record label
- Mercury Records
- Record label
- Elektra
- Record label
- Smash Records
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Groups
- Class Of '55current
- The Little Green Menpiano · 1956–1956
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Jerry Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis & His Pumping Piano, Jerry Lee Lewis with His Pumping Piano, Jerry Lewis, The Hawk, The Killer
Jerry Lee Lewis was an American country music and rock and roll pianist, singer, and songwriter. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock 'n' roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis made his first recordings in 1952 at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studio in New Orleans, Louisiana, and early recordings in 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. He later became known for his chart topping country music recordings from the 1960s and 1970s. "Crazy Arms" sold 300,000 copies in the Southern United States, but his 1957 hit "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" shot Lewis to worldwide fame. He followed this with the major hits "Great Balls of Fire", "Breathless", and "High School Confidential".
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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