American rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, who was torn between his Bible-thumping upbringing and his desire to make hell-raising rock ‘n’ roll with hits such as “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” has died at the age of 87.
Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, known as ‘The Killer,’ dies
By Bill Trott
Oct 28 (Reuters) – American rock pioneer Jerry Lee
Lewis, who was torn between his Bible-thumping upbringing and
his desire to make hell-raising rock ‘n’ roll with hits such as
“Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” has
died at the age of 87.
Lewis passed away from natural causes at his home in Desoto
County, Mississippi, with his wife, Judith, by his side, his
publicist said. The musician had been ill in recent years and
suffered a stroke in 2019.
Like Chuck Berry’s guitar, Lewis’ piano was essential in
shaping rock ‘n’ roll in the mid-1950s. He was part of the
dazzling Sun Records talent pool in Memphis, Tennessee, that
included Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Roy
Orbison. Lewis outlived them all.