Jerry Lee Lewis, who became one of the architects of rock & roll and an early rival to Elvis Presley with his pounding boogie-woogie piano, voice like a hangover and unabashed bad-boy personality, is dead. Press spokesman confirmed his death to the American ROLLING STONE, the exact cause of death is not yet known; he was 87 years old.
Lewis died at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, accompanied by his seventh wife, Judith Coghlan.
Lewis’ two 1957 singles, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” were among rock’s earliest and most original hits: howling, roaring, libidinal performances that were as defiant as any other record of that time proclaimed that a new style of music had arrived and would take no prisoners. “I invented rock ‘n’ roll before people even thought of rock ‘n’ roll,” Lewis told ROLLING STONE in 2014. “When Elvis came out he was rockabilly. When I came out with ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ it was rock & roll. That’s when the name ‘rock & roll’ came to the fore.”
“He’s the best rock ‘n’ roll pianist of all time,” said Elton John in 2007. “I couldn’t play like him because he’s too fast.”
But there was one scandal that ended his career, at least temporarily – the revelation that Lewis, then 22, had married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown. The couple were married from 1957 to 1970, and the illicit marriage (one of seven Lewis entered into) was to strain the musician’s legacy for life.
In February 2019, Lewis suffered a stroke. Although initially described as “minor”, it was anything but; he had to learn to use his right hand and walk again. “I’ve never experienced anything like it,” he told ROLLING STONE months later. “It was a big challenge and it was a very emotional experience. I didn’t know what was going on. I woke up in the hospital. I just prayed a lot and tried to get back on track.” Less than a year later, at the age of 84, he had recovered sufficiently to record a new gospel-themed album in Nashville with producer T Bone Burnett could record. Another sign of his incredible resilience was that Lewis was able to play the piano on the album (which was not released).
Lewis was finally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October of that year, but poor health prevented him from accepting the award in person. Regardless of the genre, Lewis stayed true to himself. “I was raised a good Christian,” he told ROLLING STONE in 1979. “But I couldn’t make it. … Too weak, I think.” And referring to his big hit: I can’t picture Jesus Christ doin’ a whole lotta shakin’.”