One of the earliest and most influential stars of rock ‘n’ roll has died: Jerry Lee Lewis, the piano-playing rocker behind classics like “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” died on October 28, 2022.
The announcement of his death came as a shock – for many reasons.
For example, the tragic news came just one day after the singer’s death was erroneously reported by TMZ.
So, it was a bit messy around Jerry Lee Lewis’s death – but maybe it went hand in hand with the singer’s often turbulent and controversial career.
A rock ‘n’ roll pioneer
Lewis, nicknamed “The Killer,” became a star in the 1950s, as rock ‘n’ roll was emerging as the favorite music of America’s youth. Lewis, with his energetic stage presence and bad-boy persona, is regarded as an architect for the genre, helping define its sound and image.
“I had created rock & roll before they ever thought about having rock & roll,” Lewis told Rolling Stone in 2014. “When Elvis come out, he was rockabilly. When I come out with ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,’ that was rock & roll. That’s when the name ‘rock & roll’ was put in front.”…CONTINUE READING