Jerry Lee

Lewis

Rock N Roll background

Rock N Roll is a popular genre of music, it evolved between the
1940/50s.
Originated in America.
Rock N Roll music often has a 12-bar blues chord structure. This
uses the chords I, IV and V of a key.
This genre of music was popular mainly because it influenced not
only peoples lifestyles but fashion and attitudes and language as
well.
Famous faces of Rock N Roll:

Jerry Lee Lewis

Chuck Berry
Elvis Presley

Bill Hailey and

the Comets

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis, also known as The Killer for being the first Rock and Roll wild
man, was born into a poor family in September 1935 in Louisiana. Lewis was
inspired and began playing the piano at a young age with his two cousins. His
parents recognised his talent and they were willing to mortgage their farm to
buy their son a piano.
He was inspired a lot by his surrounding and things like the Great American
Songbook. Country singers like Jimmie Rodgers were a big inspiration to him.
Lewis style of music was rockabilly which was a combination of Western country
styles and Rock and Roll. In particular he was inspired by Hank Williams, in his
biography he wrote about Williams and said I felt something when I listened to
that man. I felt something different.
After all he had achieved between 1954 -57, his career and popularity soon fell
when he got engaged to his 13 year old cousin at the age of 22.

Music Career
1956, he audition for the Sun records label in Florida. His first
audition led to many more and in December of that year he began
recording as a solo artist. Lewis went on to become one of the
most talented Rock N Roll singer/songwriters of his era.
He has played for many big names, such as: Johnny Cash and Elvis
Presley. Late 1956 Lewis Elvis and two others had a jam session
and the tape was left running. The recordings they got had
potential so they were released on CD as Million Dollar Quartet.
The original copy of one of Lewis best known and loved songs
Great Balls of Fire (1957) was elected for the Great Hall of Fame
In 1998.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt0mg8Z09SY