The publicist for US singer and rock’n’roll royalty, Jerry Lee Lewis, has confirmed that the icon sadly passed away at the age of 87.
Lewis became a star back in 1957 with his hit ‘Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On’ and was dubbed as “The Killer” for his breathtaking performances that would leave spectators speechless. One evening he even set his piano on fire to end a concert.
Lewis’s publicist, Zach Farnum, released a statement stating: “Lewis, perhaps the last true, great icon of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, whose marriage of blues, gospel, country, honky-tonk and raw, pounding stage performances so threatened a young Elvis Presley that it made him cry, has died.
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“He was there at the beginning, with Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, and the rest, and watched them fade away one by one till it was him alone to bear witness, and sign off the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.”
The singing giant is understood to have died at his home in Memphis. Lewis taught himself how to play the piano and courageously performed for the first time in public at the young age of 14, the Mirror reports.
He recorded his first track in 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis. But he shot to notoriety in 1958 with ‘Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On.’
Lewis continued to produce much loved hits in Great Balls of Fire, Breathless and High School Confidential. Earlier this week false reports had begun to circulate that the singer had died but this was corrected after his agent rubbished the claims.
Fans around the world have posted tributes online following the news of his death. One fan said: "Rest in Piece "Killer". For anyone who saw Jerry Lee Lewis live, it was an experience...and there was a whole lotta shakin' goin on!!"
Another wrote: "Rip jerry Lee Lewis. 1 of the most iconic singers of all time. He's right up there with Elvis, Michael, Haggerty, Chuck berry."
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