Jerry Lee Lewis, "Great Balls of Fire" singer, has died at age 87

CBS News ^ | October 28th, 2022 | Jordan Freiman

[shadowlands1960]

Jerry Lee Lewis, the early rock n' roll star who skyrocketed to fame with a string of hits in the 1950s, had died, his publicist confirmed to CBS News. He was 87.

Nicknamed "The Killer," Lewis was known for his energetic stage performances, which included antics such as playing the piano with his feet and lighting the instrument on fire.

[CommerceComet]

I think in the 50s Richards was doing skiffle. He was still big in the UK when I was a tyke.

Generally, true but John Lennon called Richard's 1958 hit Move It as the first British rock and roll song.

[chajin]

Fats Waller or Fats Domino???

Both. Waller was pre-rock-and-roll but his stride piano style became the basis for the piano style of people like Lewis and Little Richard. Domino was a rocker of course, but not a stride pianist.

[dforest]

Now that is some 2022 style reportin’. Thanks

[laplata]

Yep, Elvis always spends the winter in the Bahamas. He doesn’t like the cold.

[SamAdams76]

My favorite song by him was...

"What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me")

[shadowlands1960]

I resemble that song....

[fidelis]

I think what people mean when they say he was ‘the last’ of the great rockers...’ is the early pioneers, like Little Richard, Chuck Berry level... so someone who became known around 1956 or earlier (Chuck Berry’s first recording of Johnny B. Goode was 1949) and was a seminal influence.

I realize that's what some people might have in mind. The string of posts I was responding to didn't make this distinction.

[shadowlands1960]

Understood. There is also room to argue whether ballad singers and do-wop should be in the mix. Many of the forms that became popular in the 50s were seen at the time as efforts by the music industry to tame ‘rock ‘n roll.’ I know ‘skiffle’ in the UK was seen that way.

[Hatteras]

Dion Dimucci (and the Belmonts) still running around.

[Kriggerel]

All of the principal subjects of this song are now dead... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlzJZEtio8o

[A Navy Vet]

"He is the last of the piano rock-and-rollers, during the shift from piano (Little Richard, Fats Domino, Lewis) to guitar (Holly, Berry, Presley) as the defining instrument of rock-and-beyond music."

Good point that I really never noticed. Thanks.

[A Navy Vet]

"Maybe Pat Boone is the only one left."

Pat Boone was rock n roll? Give me a rocker he did. I can't remember any.

[daku]

The uproar from that marriage ended his European tour after just three short weeks. Jerry picked some local studio musicians in England upon arrival for his tour and the musicians included then 16 year old Ritchie Blackmore.

[fidelis]

Understood. There is also room to argue whether ballad singers and do-wop should be in the mix. Many of the forms that became popular in the 50s were seen at the time as efforts by the music industry to tame ‘rock ‘n roll.’ I know ‘skiffle’ in the UK was seen that way.

That is true. Sometimes, in the history of rock & roll, people either like to draw distinct categories or see it more as a development with some artists more or less sticking to distinct styles within that development. For example, early 50's artists like Huey Smith and Big Joe Turner are commonly considered to be R&B artists, but at the same time many others recognize them as being highly influential to roots rock & roll. Listening to their music, one could easily categorize them with Little Richard and Chuck Berry, recognized Rock & Rollers.

[A Navy Vet]

"There's also Dion DiMucci of Dion and the Belmonts. Their first big hit, "I Wonder Why" came out in early 1958. Dion's still around."

Are you sure you're not thinking of "Runaway"? It did have "I Wonder Why" in the chorus. So there is at least Dion still around.

[shadowlands1960]

Blackmore is still kickin’ at 77. Whenever I want to toss on a classic rock album that isn’t overplayed, I go for Blackmore’s Rainbow from 1974. Love that ‘20th Century Greensleeves....’

[chajin]

Incidentally, part of Fats Waller’s legacy is his great-grandson Darren Waller, who plays tight end for the LV Raiders, also famous for overcoming alcohol and drug abuse and working to help others do the same.

[shadowlands1960]

Or the King Daddy of them all... Muddy Waters.... almost universally seen as Chicago blues.. but his ‘Mannish Boy’ was arguably the first recognizable rock song. His decision to ‘plug in’ the blues was decisive for music in the 50s.

[A Navy Vet]

"Paul Anka (”Diana”) is still alive."

Anka mostly did crooner stuff, but "Diana" did rock. So we got Anka and Dion who are still around. I would include any founding members of do-wop groups...Drifters and maybe Platters. They both still do small gigs last I heard.

[A Navy Vet]

"Sedaka........"

I thought Sedaka died some years back. He did write and sing some light weight rockers.