Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis has died aged 87.
The American musician, whose hits included Nice Balls of Fireplace and Entire Lot of Shakin’ Going On, was one of many final survivors of rock ‘n’ roll’s golden age which included Elvis Presley and Little Richard.
Nicknamed The Killer, Lee Lewis was as well-known for his controversial personal life as his music.
He died at his house in Desoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis along with his spouse Judith by his aspect.
His publicist Zach Farnum stated: “Lewis, maybe the final true, nice icon of the start of rock ‘n’ roll, whose marriage of blues, gospel, nation, honky-tonk and uncooked, pounding stage performances so threatened a younger Elvis Presley that it made him cry, has died.
“He was there initially, with Elvis, Johnny Money, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Fat Domino, Buddy Holly, and the remainder, and watched them fade away one after the other until it was him alone to bear witness, and sing of the start of rock ‘n’ roll.”
The musician suffered from numerous diseases and accidents within the closing years of his life, with medical doctors typically telling him they need to have taken him a long time in the past, Mr Farnum stated.
He added that simply earlier than his dying, Lewis’ spouse Judith stated: “He is able to go away.”
Zak Hussein through PA Wire/PA Photos
Born in 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, Lewis later moved to Memphis, Tennessee the place he discovered work as a studio musician for Solar Studios.
Whereas working at Solar, he and Carl Perkins jammed with Presley and Johnny Money in a session that will later be known as being performed by the Million Greenback Quartet.
Throughout this profession, his music grew to become a success within the pop, nation and R&B charts.
He additionally grew to become identified for his well-known stage antics, reminiscent of taking part in standing up and even lighting the occasional piano on hearth.
Lewis enlisted the assistance of such admirers as Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Buddy Man for his 2006 launch Final Man Standing.
His final album was a gospel report along with his cousin, lifetime televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who had preached in opposition to his music after they had been youthful.
Lewis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame’s firstclass in 1986 and some years later in 1989, he was honoured for his contribution to the recording trade with a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame.
He additionally acquired a bunch of accolades together with a lifetime achievement Grammy and two Grammy corridor of fame awards, and he was inducted into the Nation Music Corridor of Fame earlier this yr.
The Nation Music Affiliation tweeted: “It’s with nice unhappiness we’ve discovered concerning the passing of Jerry Lee Lewis, who was simply inducted into the Nation Music Corridor of Fame this month.
“We prolong our heartfelt condolences to his household and family members throughout this tough time.”
On Thursday his dying was falsely reported earlier than a consultant for Lewis confirmed he was nonetheless alive.
Lewis is survived by his seventh spouse, Judith Coghlan Lewis, his youngsters Jerry Lee Lewis III, Ronnie Lewis, Phoebe Lewis and Lori Lancaster.
