Bethanys' Jerry Lee Lewis - Biography

My name is Bethany and this is my School project.

Jerry Lee Lewis was born in 1935. He was born in a little town called Ferriday in Louisiana. Jerry Lee Lewis began singing when he was 8 years old. At that time his Parents Elmo and Mamie bought him his own piano even though they were very poor.

Jerry Lee Lewis practiced on his piano every single day. Every day it was a new style of music. He liked all kinds of music, Country, Blues, and gospel. His favourite kind of music was Rock ‘ N ‘ Roll. Some day he wanted to be the best piano player in the World. He continued to follow his dream. 

His dad carried the piano and put it on his pick up truck. Jerry Lee Lewis’s dad use to drive the old pick up truck to the town centre and Jerry Lee Lewis played the piano. People dropt money in a bucket as Jerry Lee Lewis played. 

Jerry Lee Lewis loved music. All he ever thought about was music.

When Jerry Lee Lewis was 15 he started Bible College. Whilst he was there, he played a hymn in a Rock ‘ N ’ Roll style. The Preachers hated Rock ‘ N ‘ Roll, they expelled Him from the Bible College

When Jerry Lee Lewis was 16, He started performing in a Club called the Wagon Wheel in Natchez across the River from Ferriday. Jerry Lee Lewis enjoyed singing in front of people he played Rock ‘ N ‘ Roll in front of them.  

When Jerry Lee Lewis was 20 he wanted to go to the same recording studio that Elvis Presley recorded at. His dad had to sell some eggs so they could afford to go to Memphis To meet Sam Phillips. He is the Man that discovered Elvis Presley.  

Jerry Lee Lewis travelled hundreds of miles to get to the studio only to be told that Sam Philips Was on holiday. Jerry Lee Lewis would not be put off and replied, “Well, I’ll just have to sit on the door step and wait for Sam Phillips to come back.” The producer Jack Clements Realised that Jerry Lee Lewis was serious about sitting on the door step so he decided that he would record Jerry Lee Lewis so he could show Sam Philips the recording.  

Jerry Lee Lewis went back to the recording studios a month later Sam Phillips told Jerry that he really liked his piano playing and Voice. Jerry Lee Lewis was over joyed.

Sam Phillips not only had Jerry Lee Lewis recording his own records he had Jerry Lee Lewis playing piano on other peoples records, such as Carl Perkins (he is the man who wrote Blue Suede shoes) Jerry Lee Lewis recorded his first hit called Crazy Arms this went into the local Charts. The record sold around 200,000 copies.

Jerry Lee Lewis was playing piano for Carl Perkins when Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley

Just happened to come in the studios they all started to sing together. This was recorded And is known as The Million Dollar Quartet.

Jerry Lee Lewis went back into the sun recording studios And recorded a whole lot of shaking going on. This song would make him a super star.

Back in the 1950’s there was no such thing as MTV or TV music channels. The only way you could be heard was on radio and chat shows on TV. There was a show called the Steve Allan show. Jerry Lee Lewis appeared on the Steve Allan show and played whole lot of shaking going on. The next day teenagers rushed to the record shops to buy Jerry Lee Lewis’s new record.    

Steve Allan was a very famous chat show host. He was the man who helped Elvis regain his popularity. Elvis lost a lot of Fans after swinging his hips

On another TB Show called, the Ed Sullivan Show. Jerry Lee Lewis was so happy with his success he named his first child Steve Allen junior.

The song Whole lot of shaking went to number one in America

They had to build more pressing plants so they could make enough records. Whole lot of shaking has sold over eight million records.

No body including Elvis Presley thought that Jerry Lee Lewis Could have another hit as good as Whole lot of shaking going on. Little did they know that Jerry Lee Lewis’s Next hit would go to the top of the charts in America and also would go to number one in the UK. The song was called, Great Balls of Fire. Jerry lee Lewis wanted the piano to be really loud So he nailed thumb nails into the hammers of the piano. This meant that metal was hitting the strings.

When Jerry Lee Lewis got the money From his records sales, he treated his mom and dad Buying them a beautiful house to say thank you for all their Help and support. He also bought the house his wife dreamed of For her.

Jerry Lee Lewis loved big fast cars and brought several of them including a Cadillac like Elvis Presley’s. Jerry Lee Lewis had never had this much money before, it was like a dream come true. Jerry Lee Lewis had never been happier in his whole life.

Jerry Lee Lewis wanted to be the one and only King of Rock ’ N ’ Roll. He thought this would be possible because when Elvis went into the Army. 

Nobody in America would see Elvis Presley for two Years. Elvis was going to be stationed in Germany for two years of Army training.

Jerry Lee Lewis did some concerts with jonnie cash And Carl Perkins who both played guitar Jerry Lee Lewis Was very jealous because they could move around with their guitars but Jerry Lee Lewis was stuck at his piano.

Carl Perkins suggested that Jerry Lee Lewis should try standing up at his piano Jerry Lee Lewis not only stood up at the piano He lay down and played the piano and he played the piano with his bum and feet, he even stood on his piano. He became the wiled man of Rock ’ N ’ Roll and one of the best Rock ’ N ’ Roll performers.   

Jerry Lee Lewis really was the wiled man. There was a story about one concert where just because He couldn’t be top of the bill, he set his piano on fire during the song, Great Balls of fire. This ment that Chuck berry  who was top of the bill had no piano for his band to play.

As hard as jerry lee lewis tried he just could not top Elvis Presley’s popularity. As years past on Elvis and jerry became friends and Elvis bought jerry lee lewis a mota bike as a gift. Jerry Lee Lewis was some times invited by Elvis to go to vagus and see his shows.

As for Chuck Berry, in 2005 Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck berry performs some shows in the UK so mayby they must be friends again.

Jerry Lee Lewis is now 72 and has been famous for 50 years. For most of that time he has lived in the same house. This house has a swimming pool shaped like a grand piano.

He also has the original piano his mom and dad gave him and the motorbike Elvis gave him too.

He still does World tours and still has crowds Rocking and Rolling.

Jerry Lee Lewis has had nice things said about him by the Beatles. Tom Jones recorded “Green Green Rrass of Home,” after hearing Jerry Lee Lewis sing it. Elton John and Jamie Cullom have both said how they love Jerry Lee Lewis’s piano playing. 

Jerry Lee Lewis has now done a new CD and DVD called, The Last Man Standing. They called it that because he is the last Rock ’ N ’ Roll Star from the 50’s. On this CD and DVD he has rod Stewart and tom Jones plus many more famous people.

He never became the King of Rock ’ N ’ Roll but he is still a big Rock ’ N ’ Roll Star.

The CD Last Man Standing is his biggest hit yet.

By Bethany (Aged 9)