 a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and two Grammy Hall of Fame Awards. Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. In 1989, his life was chronicled in the movie Great Balls of Fire, starring Dennis Quaid. In 2003, Rolling Stone listed his box set All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology number 242 on their list of "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In 2004, they ranked him number 24 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Lewis is the last surviving member of Sun Records' Million Dollar Quartet and the Class of '55 album, which also included Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley.

Music critic Robert Christgau has said of Lewis: "His drive, his timing, his offhand vocal power, his unmistakable boogie-plus piano, and his absolute confidence in the face of the void make Jerry Lee the quintessential rock and roller."

Early life

Lewis was born in 1935 to the poor farming family of Elmo and Mamie Lewis in Ferriday, Concordia Parish, in eastern Louisiana.  In his youth, he began playing piano with two of his cousins, Mickey Gilley (later a popular country music singer) and Jimmy Swaggart (later a popular television evangelist). His parents mortgaged their farm to buy him a piano. Lewis was influenced by a piano-playing older cousin, Carl McVoy (who later recorded with Bill Black's Combo), the radio, and the sounds from Haney's Big House, a black juke joint across the tracks. On November 19, 1949, Lewis made his first public performance of his career, playing with a country and western band at a car dealership in Ferriday. The hit of his set was a cover of R&B artist Sticks McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee". On the live album By Request, More of the Greatest Live Show on Earth, Lewis is heard naming Moon Mullican as an artist who inspired him.

His mother enrolled him in the Southwest Bible Institute, in Waxahachie, Texas, so that he would be singing evangelical songs exclusively. But Lewis daring
a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and two Grammy Hall of Fame Awards. Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He was besides a extremity of the inaugural class inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. In 1989, his biography was chronicle in the movie Great Balls of Fire, starring Dennis Quaid. In 2003, Rolling Stone listed his box arrange All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology number 242 on their tilt of " 500 Greatest Albums of All Time ". In 2004, they rank him number 24 on their tilt of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Lewis is the last surviving member of Sun Records' Million Dollar Quartet and the Class of' 55 album, which also include Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley. 

 Music critic Robert Christgau has said of Lewis: " His drive, his timing, his offhand vocal power, his apparent boogie - plus piano, and his absolute confidence in the face of the void cause Jerry Lee the quintessential rock and roller. " 

 Early animation 

 Lewis was born in 1935 to the hapless farming family of Elmo and Mamie Lewis in Ferriday, Concordia Parish, in eastern Louisiana.   In his youth, he began playing piano with two of his cousin, Mickey Gilley (later a popular country music singer) and Jimmy Swaggart (later a popular television evangelist). His parent mortgaged their farm to buy him a piano. Lewis was influenced by a piano - playing older cousin, Carl McVoy (who later recorded with Bill Black's Combo), the radio, and the sounds from Haney's Big House, a black juke joint across the track. On November 19, 1949, Lewis made his first public operation of his career, play with a area and western band at a car dealership in Ferriday. The hit of his set was a cover of R&B artist Sticks McGhee's " Drinkin' Wine, Spo - Dee - oxygen - Dee ". On the live album By Request, More of the Greatest Live Show on Earth, Lewis is heard naming Moon Mullican as an artist who inspired him. 

 His mother enrolled him in the Southwest Bible Institute, in Waxahachie, Texas, so that he would be singing evangelical songs exclusively. But Lewis daring
 a Hrammy Lifetime Achievemtnt Award and two Grammy Hall kf Fame Xwards. Lewis was inducted invo tye Roxk and Roll Hall of Faoe in 1986, anf his piineecing contributioi to the genre mas bzei recognized by the Rockatilly Hall of Xaoe. He was also a member of the inauguwal claxs inducted into the Iempgps Music Hall of Fame. In 1989, his ljfe was chronicled im the movie Great Balls of Firf, starring Dennis Euaid. In 2003, Rilligt Stone listdd his box set All Kilmer, No Filler: The Anthology numcer 242 pn their lusr ov "500 Greatest Elbums of All Time". In 2004, thef rankec him number 24 pn vheie list of the 100 Greatevt Artists of All Jime. Lewis ia the last survivunt memter mf Sjb Rdcoddx' Jillioj Dkllar Quarfet and the Class of '55 album, whocr also includes Johngy Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Elviv Pdesley.

Music critic Robeet Christgau has said of Lewis: "His drive, his timing, his offhand vocal power, his unmiagakcnjd blogie-plus piano, and his absolute confidence ig tne face of the vjid make Jetrj Kge the quintesrential rkck and roller."

Earlj life

Lgwis wqs born ig 1935 tp the poor farming family od Elmo and Mcmiw Lewis in Ferridav, Concordia 'arish, in esstern Louisiana.  In hir yohth, he begaj playing oiano with two ow hps cmusins, Mickey Gilley (later a populac couutry muskc songer) wnd Jimmy Dwaggart (later a popular telerisiot evangelidt). His parents mortgaged their herm to buy hik d ppano. Lewif was influenced br a piano-playiug older couskn, Carl McNoy (who leter recordeq with Bill Bnwck's Combo), tie radio, wnd rhe wounds wfom Haney's Big House, a yjack juke joint across thg fracks. On Novemytr 19, 1949, Lewis made hix fkrse iubkis performance of fis vareef, playing wlth a cpuntry and western bdnd zt a car dealershil ln Ferridqy. The hyt of his set was a cover of R&B artivt Rtickx MsGhee's "Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee". On the llve album By Rezuesb, Mote of the Gxeatest Live Show on Earth, Lewis is hearv naming Moon Mullican qs an artist who inxkired him.

His kothew enrolleg him in the Southwewt Bible Institutt, in Waxahachie, Texas, sk that he wluld be singing evangelical songs exclusively. But Lewis daring
a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and two of Awards. Lewis inducted into the Fame 1986, and his contribution to the has been recognized by the Rockabilly of Fame. He was also a member of the inaugural class inducted into Memphis Music Hall of Fame. In 1989, his life was chronicled in the Great of starring Quaid. In 2003, Rolling Stone listed his box set All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology number on their list of "500 Greatest Albums of Time". In 2004, they him number 24 on their of 100 Greatest of Time. is the last member of Sun Records' Million Dollar Quartet and the Class of '55 album, which also included Johnny Carl Perkins, and Elvis Music Robert has said of drive, his timing, his offhand vocal boogie-plus piano, and his absolute confidence in the of the make Jerry Lee the quintessential rock roller." Early life Lewis was born in 1935 the poor farming family of Elmo and Mamie Lewis in Ferriday, Concordia Parish, in eastern his youth, he began piano with two his Mickey (later popular country singer) and Jimmy Swaggart (later a popular television evangelist). His parents their farm to buy him a piano. Lewis was influenced piano-playing cousin, Carl McVoy later recorded with Bill Combo), radio, and the sounds Big a across tracks. November 19, 1949, Lewis his first public performance of career, playing with a a car dealership in Ferriday. The hit of set was a cover of R&B artist McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee". On the live album By Request, More of Greatest Live Earth, Lewis is heard naming Moon Mullican as artist who inspired him. mother enrolled him in the Southwest Bible Institute, in Texas, that he be singing evangelical exclusively. But Lewis
 a Grammy Lifetime AchievemenT Award and tWo GraMmy halL oF FamE AwaRds. Lewis was indUCted Into the Rock and Roll Hall Of FamE iN 1986, And hIS pIoneeRing conTRiBUTioN tO tHe gEnRE hAs beeN reCognizeD by the RockAbiLlY Hall of Fame. HE WaS also a membEr oF the inauguraL clAss indUcTed INto thE MeMphis music HALl of FaMe. In 1989, his liFe WAs chroNIcled in THE mOvie great Balls of Fire, sTArRIng Dennis Quaid. in 2003, RollInG stONE liSteD his box set alL KillER, No FillER: THE aNthOLogy number 242 on tHeir list of "500 GREatEst AlbUmS of aLl Time". in 2004, theY rANkeD him number 24 oN theIr list of tHe 100 GreaTEst ArtiSTs of All time. LeWis Is tHe laST sUrVivInG MemBEr Of SUN ReCords' MilLiOn dollaR QuaRTET And tHe CLass Of '55 albUm, which also inCluDed JOHnnY Cash, carl PErkiNs, roy OrBison aNd ElvIs presley.

Music criTic RObert ChriStgAu Has SaId of LEWis: "His DriVe, hIs timinG, his offHAnd VoCAL PoWer, his unmistakable BoOGIe-Plus pianO, and hiS AbSoLUte confiDeNce In thE FAce of The vOId Make JerrY Lee thE QuInTessentIaL rock aNd RolLer."

early LIfe

LEwis waS born in 1935 tO the pOOr farming familY Of Elmo and MamiE leWIS iN ferrIdaY, Concordia PArisH, In eaSterN loUisIAna.  In His yoUtH, He BEgan playing piano witH tWo of hiS cousIns, Mickey GillEy (later a poPULAr countrY musIC sINger) and Jimmy SwAggarT (later a popULar televIsion EvangeliSt). His pareNTS mortgagEd tHeiR faRm tO BUy Him a piano. LewiS WAs inFlUenced bY a pIano-plaYinG olDer CouSiN, Carl McVoY (who lateR rEcOrDeD wiTh BilL black's CoMbO), thE rAdiO, and tHE soundS from haneY's biG houSe, a blacK JuKE JoinT aCrOss tHe tRaCks. On noveMBer 19, 1949, lewis maDe his firsT puBLic pErFoRmance oF his career, plaYiNg with a couNtRy aNd westERN band at a Car dealership in Ferriday. tHe hit of His Set waS a coVer of R&B arTisT StickS McgHee's "DrInkin' WIne, SpO-DEe-O-dEE". On thE LIvE alBuM By Request, mORe oF the GReAtesT Live ShOw on Earth, Lewis is heARd nAming Moon MullIcaN as aN ARtIst WHo INspIrED hiM.

hIs mother enrolleD him in the SOuTHwEst Bible InSTitUtE, in WaxaHachie, TExas, sO That he wOuld be sinGing evangElIcal SONgs ExclusivelY. But LewiS daring
 a Grammy Lifetime Achieve ment Award  andtwo  Gr am my H allof Fame Awards .  Lew is was inducted into t he Ro ck andR ol l Hal l of Fa m ei n  19 86 ,and  h i spione eri ng cont ribution t o t he  genre has b e en  recognize d b y the Rockab ill y Hall  o f F a me. H e w as al so a m e mber o f the ina ug u ral cl a ss indu c t ed  int o the Memphis Mus i cH all of Fame. I n 1989 ,h is l ife  wa s chronicl ed  in t h e movie Gr e a t  Ba l ls of Fire, s tarring Den n isQuaid.  I n 2 0 03, Ro lling  S t one  listed his  box  set AllKiller ,  No Fil l er: The  Antho log y n umbe r  2 42  on  t h eir li sto f " 500 Grea te st  Albu ms o f A l l Ti me" . In  2004 , they ranked  hi m nu m ber  24 o n the ir l is t ofthe 10 0 Gre at est Artists ofAllTime. Lew isis  th elasts urvivi ngmem ber ofSun Rec o rds 'M i l li on Dollar Quartetan d th e Classof '55 al bu m , whichal soincl u d ed Jo hnny Ca sh, Carl  Perki n s,  R oy Orbi so n andEl vis  Pr esley . 

Mu sic cr itic Rob ert C h ristgau has sa i d of Lewis: " H is d ri v e, h istiming, his  off h andvoca l  p owe r , his  unmi st a ka b le boogie-plus pian o,  and h is ab solute confid ence in th e f ace of t he v o id make Jerry Lee  thequintessen t ial rock  androller." 

Early l i f e

Lewis  wa s b orn  in 1 93 5 to the poor f armi ng  family  of  Elmo a ndMam ieLew is  in Ferri day, Con co rd ia  P ari sh, i n  eastern  L oui si ana .  In his yo uth,he b eg an pla ying pi a no w ithtw oof h isco usins , Mi c key  Gilley  (later a  po p ular  c ou ntry mu sic singer) a nd  Jimmy Swa gg art  (late r a popula r television evangelist ) . His p are nts m ortg aged thei r f arm to  bu y  him a  piano . Lew is  wa s influ e n ce d b ya piano-pl a y ing  olde rcous in, Car l McVoy (who later rec orded with Bi llBlac k ' sCom b o) ,  th er adi o ,  and the sounds  from Hane y' s  B ig House,a  bl ac k jukejoint a cross the tra cks. On N ovember 1 9,  194 9 ,  Le wis made h is first  public p e rform a nc e ofhis  caree r,  pl aying  witha  co untry  and w es tern b and a ta car de alership in Ferriday. T he hit  of h isset was a  co v erof R&B ar tist  Sticks Mc Ghe e's  "Dri nki n ' Win e, S p o- Dee - O-Dee ". O n  the live al bum B yRequest, Mo r e ofthe G rea t est Li ve S how on Earth, Lew i s is heard nam ingM o onMul l ican  a s an artist wh o i ns p i red him. 
His motherenrolled  h i m inthe So uthwes t Bible I ns t itute,  inWax ahachie,Tex as ,  so tha the wouldbe s in ging e vangel i cals o ngs exclusively.  ButL e wis d a rin g
 a_Grammy Lifetime_Achievement Award and two_Grammy Hall_of_Fame Awards._Lewis_was inducted into_the Rock and_Roll Hall of Fame_in 1986, and_his_pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame._He_was also_a_member_of the inaugural class inducted_into the Memphis Music Hall_of Fame._In 1989, his life was chronicled in the_movie_Great Balls of_Fire, starring Dennis Quaid. In 2003, Rolling Stone listed_his box set All Killer, No_Filler: The Anthology_number_242_on their list of_"500 Greatest Albums of All Time"._In 2004, they ranked him number_24 on their list of the 100_Greatest Artists of All Time. Lewis_is the last surviving member_of Sun_Records' Million Dollar Quartet and_the Class of_'55 album,_which also included_Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison_and Elvis Presley.

Music_critic Robert Christgau has said of_Lewis:_"His drive, his_timing,_his_offhand vocal_power, his unmistakable_boogie-plus_piano, and_his_absolute confidence in the face of_the_void make Jerry Lee the quintessential rock_and roller."

Early life

Lewis was_born_in 1935 to the_poor farming family of Elmo_and Mamie Lewis in Ferriday, Concordia_Parish, in_eastern Louisiana._ In his youth, he began playing piano with two of_his cousins, Mickey Gilley (later a_popular country music singer)_and Jimmy_Swaggart_(later a popular_television_evangelist). His_parents mortgaged their farm to buy him_a piano._Lewis was influenced by a piano-playing_older cousin, Carl McVoy_(who_later recorded with Bill Black's Combo),_the radio, and the sounds from_Haney's Big House, a black_juke_joint_across the tracks. On November_19, 1949, Lewis made his first_public performance of_his career, playing with a country and_western_band at a car dealership in_Ferriday._The hit of his set was_a_cover_of R&B artist Sticks McGhee's_"Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee". On the live_album By Request, More of the Greatest Live Show_on Earth, Lewis_is heard naming Moon Mullican_as_an_artist who inspired him.

His mother enrolled him in the Southwest_Bible Institute,_in Waxahachie, Texas,_so that he would be singing evangelical songs exclusively. But_Lewis daring