History Music / JerryLeeLewis

Known primarily for such hits as "[[{{Fireballs}} Great Balls of Fire]]", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", his SignatureStyle of piano-playing (flamboyant, with a lot of ''glissando'', getting up on the piano, etc.), and the KissingCousins scandal (in which his wife was discovered to not only be his first cousin once removed[[labelnote:*]]First cousins have (at least) one grandparent in common. "Once removed" means that one cousin's grandparent is the other's great-grandparent.[[/labelnote]], but also just 13 years old—''and'' his divorce from his second wife still wasn't final) that almost completely derailed his career. Later on, he reinvented himself as a fairly successful mainstream CountryMusic artist.

* LastOfHisKind: Music/LittleRichard's death in 2020 left him as the last surviving of the 50's rock pioneers.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jerry_lee_lewis.jpg]]

->''"I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs''
->''I'm real nervous, but it sure is fun!''
->''C'mon baby, you drive me crazy''
->''Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"''

Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935–October 28, 2022) was an American rock and country pioneer, as well as one of the Million Dollar Quartet with Music/ElvisPresley, Carl Perkins and Music/JohnnyCash, fellow [[Music/SamPhillips Sun Records]] artists.

Known primarily for such hits as "[[{{Fireballs}} Great Balls of Fire]]", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", his SignatureStyle of piano-playing (flamboyant, with a lot of ''glissando'', getting up on the piano, etc.), and the KissingCousins scandal (in which his wife was discovered to not only be his first cousin once removed[[labelnote:*]]First cousins have (at least) one grandparent in common. "Once removed" means that one cousin's grandparent is the other's great-grandparent.[[/labelnote]], but also just 13 years old) that almost completely derailed his career. Later on, he reinvented himself as a fairly successful mainstream CountryMusic artist.

Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935) is an American rock and country pioneer, as well as one of the Million Dollar Quartet with Music/ElvisPresley, Carl Perkins and Music/JohnnyCash, fellow [[Music/SamPhillips Sun Records]] artists.

Now in his 80s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2020s. As of the passing of Music/LittleRichard in May 2020, Lewis is [[LastOfHisKind the last surviving rock star]] from the pre-[[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] era, and the August 2021 passing of [[Music/TheEverlyBrothers Don Everly]] left Lewis the last living member of the UsefulNotes/RockAndRollHallOfFame's inaugural class of 1986.

Has no relation to the comedian Creator/JerryLewis. Jerry Lee was born a Lewis, while the comedian was born Joseph Levitch.

* LastOfHisKind: Music/LittleRichard's death in 2020 has left him as the last surviving of the 50's rock pioneers.

Has no relation to the comedian Creator/JerryLewis.

** The cover of the 39th album ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Man_Standing_(Jerry_Lee_Lewis_album) Last Man Standing]]'' shows him with, you guessed it, a piano on fire.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* KillItWithFire: Set his piano on fire on Television.

* LargeHam: Oh God yes....

* SmallReferencePools: Many people know him only for "Great Balls Of Fire".
* SuperGroup: The Million Dollar Freaking Quartet!, plus he made two albums with fellow Sun Records alumni: ''Survivors'', with Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, and ''Class of 55'', with Cash, Perkins and Roy Orbison.

Now in his 80s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and as of the passing of Music/LittleRichard in May 2020 is [[LastOfHisKind the last surviving rock star]] from the pre-[[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] era, and the last living member of the UsefulNotes/RockAndRollHallOfFame's inaugural class of 1986.

Known primarily for such hits as "[[{{Fireballs}} Great Balls of Fire]]", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", his SignatureStyle of piano-playing (flamboyant, with a lot of ''glissando'', getting up on the piano, etc.), and the KissingCousins scandal (in which his wife was discovered to not only be his first cousin, but also just 13 years old) that almost completely derailed his career. Later on, he reinvented himself as a fairly successful mainstream CountryMusic artist.

Now in his 80s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and as of the passing of Music/LittleRichard in May 2020 is [[LastOfHisKind the last surviving rock star]] from the pre-[[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] era.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In his 1980 song "Rockin' My Life Away", which was actually a fairly prominent country hit, he somehow manages to slip in "mother-humpin'" in the middle of one of the last verses.

He has his own {{Biopic}}, ''Great Balls of Fire!'', where he is portrayed by Creator/DennisQuaid, and appeared in another, ''Film/WalkTheLine'', where he is portrayed by Waylon Payne.

Known primarily for such hits as "[[{{Fireballs}} Great Balls of Fire]]", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", his SignatureStyle of piano-playing (flamboyant, with a lot of ''glissando'', getting up on the piano, etc.), and the KissingCousins scandal that almost completely derailed his career. Later on, he reinvented himself as a fairly successful mainstream CountryMusic artist.

Now in his 80s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and as of the passing of Music/LitteRichard in May 2020 is [[LastOfHisKind the last surviving rock star]] from the pre-[[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] era.

Now in his 80s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and is the last surviving rock star from the pre-[[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] era.

Now in his 80s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and, alongside Music/LittleRichard, is one of the two last surviving rock stars from the pre-[[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] era.

Now in his 80s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and, alongside Music/LittleRichard is one of the two last surviving rock stars from the pre-[[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] era.

Now in his 80s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and is one of the last surviving 1950s rock stars.

Now in his 90s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and is one of the last surviving 1950s rock stars.

Now in his 90s, Lewis continues to perform regularly in the 2010s, and is one of the last surviving 1950 rock stars.

->''I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs''

->''[[MemeticMutation Goodness gracious,]] [[TitleDrop great balls of fire!]]''
-->--[[SignatureSong "Great Balls of Fire"]]

Known primarily for such hits as "[[{{Fireballs}} Great Balls of Fire]]", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", his SignatureStyle of piano-playing (flamboyant, with a lot of ''glissando'', getting up on the piano, etc.), and the [[KissingCousins scandal]] that almost completely derailed his career. Later on, he reinvented himself as a fairly successful mainstream CountryMusic artist.

He has had his own {{Biopic}} and appeared in [[Film/WalkTheLine others]].

Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935) is an American rock and country pioneer, as well as one of the Million Dollar Quartet with Music/ElvisPresley, Carl Perkins and Music/JohnnyCash, fellow [[Music/SamPhillips Sun Records]] artists. Known primarily for hits such as "[[{{Fireballs}} Great Balls of Fire]]", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", his SignatureStyle of piano-playing (flamboyant, with a lot of ''glissando'', getting up on the piano, etc.), and the [[KissingCousins scandal]] that almost completely derailed his career. Later on, he reinvented himself as a fairly successful mainstream CountryMusic artist.

Jerry Lee Lewis (born 29 September 1935) is an American rock and country pioneer, as well as one of the Million Dollar Quartet with Music/ElvisPresley, Carl Perkins and Music/JohnnyCash, fellow [[Music/SamPhillips Sun Records]] artists. Known primarily for hits such as "[[{{Fireballs}} Great Balls of Fire]]", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", his SignatureStyle of piano-playing (flamboyant, with a lot of ''glissando'', getting up on the piano, etc.), and the [[KissingCousins scandal]] that almost completely derailed his career. Later on, he reinvented himself as a fairly successful mainstream CountryMusic artist.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jerry_lee_lewis.jpg]]

* IAmSong: Quite a few, beginning in the fifties with "Lewis Boogie". Also, "Rockin' My Life Away", "Boogie Woogie Country Man", "Honky Tonk Rock 'N' Roll Piano Man".

'''Jerry Lee Lewis''' (born 29 September 1935) is an American rock and country pioneer, as well as one of the Million Dollar Quartet with Music/ElvisPresley, Carl Perkins and Music/JohnnyCash, fellow [[Music/SamPhillips Sun Records]] artists. Known primarily for hits such as "[[{{Fireballs}} Great Balls of Fire]]", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", his SignatureStyle of piano-playing (flamboyant, with a lot of ''glissando'', getting up on the piano, etc.), and the [[KissingCousins scandal]] that almost completely derailed his career. Later on, he reinvented himself as a fairly successful mainstream CountryMusic artist.