Jerry Lee Lewis, a famous singer, passes away at age 87. Great Balls of Fire’s infamous singer Jerry Lee Lewis passed away at the age of 87, according to his agent. He was one of the last living representatives of the heyday of rock ‘n’ roll, and his life was also marked by scandal and violence.
When he married his cousin Myra Gale Brown at the age of 22, his career was briefly put on hold. “Perhaps the last true, great icon of the birth of rock’n’roll,” according to Lewis’ agent, was Lewis.
“He was there at the beginning, with Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, and the rest, and watched them fade away one by one until it was him alone to bear witness, and sing of the birth of rock’n’roll,” Lewis’ publicist Zach Farnum said in a statement.
Lewis died at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, with his seventh wife, Judith, by his side, according to his publicist.The news of his death comes just days after TMZ reported a hoax announcement of his death. The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood led the tributes to Lewis, tweeting: “JLL the KILLER, R.I.P. What a gentleman.”
“It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Jerry Lee Lewis, who was just inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this month,” the Country Music Association tweeted. “During this difficult time, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Lewis, who was born in 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, later relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, where he worked as a studio musician for Sun Studios. He made his stage debut at the age of 14 and grew up listening to boogie-woogie and blues by sneaking into a Ferriday nightclub that featured the best blues musicians of the time.
In addition to hits like Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On, Breathless, and High School Confidential, Lewis was famous for his stage antics like playing standing up and even setting fire to a piano. The musician suffered from a variety of illnesses and injuries in his final years, with doctors telling him they should have taken him decades ago, according to Mr Farnum.
Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s first class in 1986, and a few years later, in 1989, he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the recording industry.
