(Ferriday) Family, friends and fans gathered on Saturday to bid farewell to rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis at a memorial service held in Ferriday, his northern Louisiana hometown.
Posted at 6:46 p.m.
The singer, known for hits such as Great Balls of Fire and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ Ondied on October 28 at his home in Mississippi at the age of 87.
Televangelist and pianist Jimmy Swaggart, the cousin of Mr Lewis, said during the service that he had lost the brother he never had.
The two artists had released the gospel album The Boys From Ferriday earlier this year, and Swaggart admitted he wasn’t sure the rocker was going to be able to complete the recording session due to his medical condition.
According to Mr. Swaggart, he is still “one of the greatest artists who ever lived”.
Jerry Lee Lewis, who called himself “The Killer”, was the last survivor of a generation of artists who rewrote music history, a group that included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
In the late 1950s, his personal life had been heavily criticized following the announcement that he had married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, while still married to his previous wife. The rebellious pianist and rocker had been banned from radio stations, and his income had shrunk to virtually zero. Over the next few decades, Lewis had struggled with drug addiction, alcoholism, and health issues, in addition to having run-ins with the American justice system.
By the 1960s, Mr. Lewis had reinvented himself as a country performer, and the music business had finally forgiven him. He had several hits from 1967 to 1970, including “She Still Comes Around” and What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me).
In 1986, along with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and others, Jerry Lee Lewis was among the first class of inductees into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Country this year. His life and music had been highlighted in the 1989 biographical film titled Great Balls of Firewith Dennis Quaid, and in the 2022 Ethan Coen documentary, Trouble in Mind.
Mr. Lewis had won a Grammy in 1987 for an interview album, which was named best spoken word recording, and received a Grammy for lifetime achievement in 2005.
Illinois couple Tom and Sandra Tomschin traveled to Ferriday to pay their respects to the rocker.
“We felt the need to pay homage to the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer who played a major role in the creation and formation of the genre,” Tomschin said.
“We have attended several of his concerts and even if he is gone, he will always live in our hearts,” added his wife.