Book Read Free

Jerry Lee Lewis

Page 52

by Rick Bragg


  drug use, 359, 379

  music career, 351–52, 361, 379–80

  Lewis, Jerry Lee III, 434–35, 437, 446

  Lewis, John Savory, 27

  Lewis, Judith Ann Coghlan, 14–15, 458–63, 465–66, 467

  Lewis, Kerrie McCarver, 425, 434–35, 437, 443, 444, 446, 451

  Lewis, Leroy, 27, 37

  Lewis, Linda Gail, 84, 304, 327, 329, 340, 371–72

  marriages of, 371–72

  music career, 327, 347

  Lewis, Lori Leigh, 363, 418, 461

  Lewis, Mamie, 3, 21, 29–37, 40–76, 84, 88, 103, 105, 107, 114, 177, 209, 227, 265, 267, 291, 312, 329, 339, 340, 355–63

  cancer of, 355–63

  death of, 362–63, 372, 375, 381

  death of son Elmo, 47–50

  divorce from Elmo, 301–2

  relationship with Jerry Lee, 56–57, 63, 103, 105, 108, 112, 134, 141, 209–10, 284–85, 301–2, 350, 355–63, 374–75, 416, 437

  Lewis, Myra Gayle Brown, 13, 163, 168, 194, 212, 236–43, 263, 338, 415, 459

  courted by Lewis, 236–40

  death of son Steve Allen, 304–6, 328

  divorce from Lewis, 352–53, 395

  in Great Britain, 264–76, 303–4, 307

  marriage to Lewis, 240–47, 266–83, 297, 312–13, 328–29, 352–53, 437, 439

  as a mother, 304–6, 312–13, 328

  movie depictions of, 437–39

  scandal over, 266–83, 298

  Lewis, Phoebe Allen, 312–13, 338, 369, 382, 392–93, 415, 451, 459

  Lewis, Shawn Stephens, 417, 421–24

  death of, 421–24

  Lewis, Steve Allen, 297–98, 304

  death of, 304–6, 328, 352

  Lewis, Thomas C., 27

  “Lewis Boogie,” 180

  Liberace, 234

  “Life’s Little Ups and Downs,” 353

  Lightfoot, Papa George, 83

  liquor, 31, 33, 35, 40, 50, 82, 102, 104, 109, 110, 111, 140, 191, 204, 215, 235–36, 340

  Haney’s, 82

  illegal, 32, 33–34, 40–42, 46, 101

  Lewis and, 204, 235–36, 286, 293, 322–28, 353, 359–60, 372–74, 387, 388, 395–400, 408–12, 420–22, 426, 434, 441, 447, 452, 458

  Littlejohn, Johnny, 146–51, 467

  Little Milton, 83, 159

  “Little Queenie,” 300, 419, 430

  Little Richard, 145, 146, 196, 231, 251, 299, 347, 348, 367, 429, 451, 453, 454

  Little Rock, Arkansas, 179, 223

  desegregation, 222

  Live at the Star Club (album), 316–18

  London, 226, 341

  Lewis in, 264–76, 298, 303–4, 306–8, 315, 367–74, 410, 418–19, 440

  London Daily Mirror, 272

  “Lonely Weekends,” 366

  Long, Earl, 110

  Long, Huey P., 28–29, 34–35

  “Long Gone Lonesome Blues,” 94

  “Long Tall Sally,” 317

  Los Angeles, 15, 137, 194, 208, 219–20, 230–34, 261, 296–97, 330, 335–42, 378, 379, 391–94, 437

  Los Angeles Times, 340, 442

  Louisiana, history of, 22–27

  Louisiana Hayride, 69, 94, 126, 137, 141, 259

  Louisiana Purchase, 23

  Lovelace, Kenny, 12, 329–31, 347, 352, 354, 361, 371, 373, 412, 419, 424, 444, 454, 470

  “Love Made a Fool of Me,” 300–301

  “Love Me Tender,” 208

  “Lovesick Blues,” 15, 93, 94, 377, 430

  “Lovin’ Up a Storm,” 298

  Lymon, Frankie, 243, 254

  Lynn, Loretta, 418

  MacLeod, Iain, 274

  Malito, Peter, 353

  Mann, Dagwood, 394

  Many Sounds of Jerry Lee, The (TV show), 348

  Marcus, Greil, 438

  “Margie,” 69

  Maris, Julienne, 337

  Marshall, William, 337

  Martin, Janis, 179

  “Matchbox,” 169

  May, Julio, 122

  “Maybellene,” 252, 320

  Mayfield, Percy, 83

  MCA, 424

  Lewis at, 424

  McDuff, Coleman, 116

  McGhee, Stick, 4, 71, 102

  McGlothin, Glen, 45

  McVoy, Carl Everett Glasscock, 75–76, 415

  “Me and Bobby McGee,” 366, 377, 404

  Mean Old Man (album), 457–58

  “Mean Woman Blues,” 195–96, 223, 318, 376

  “Meat Man,” 377–78, 420

  Medlicott, Sir Frank, 274, 276

  Memphis, 1, 4, 78, 81, 82, 103, 131, 140, 142, 194, 297, 310–11, 322

  nightclubs, 310–12, 443

  radio, 156, 164, 167–69, 194, 196, 279–80

  Sun Records, 154–84, 197–201, 207–19, 224–26, 260–63, 277–83, 312, 447–48

  Memphis Cotton Carnival, 419–20

  Memphis, Helena & Louisiana Railroad, 27

  Memphis Holiday Inn concerts, 348

  Memphis Press–Scimitar, 172

  Memphis Recording Service, 157

  Mercury, 314, 318, 321, 327, 340

  Lewis at, 327, 332–34, 343–49, 364–66, 387, 390–91, 401–2, 406

  Merriweather, Big Maceo, 83

  “Mexicali Rose,” 68, 298, 302

  Mexican War, 25

  MGM, 230

  “Middle Age Crazy,” 401, 403

  Midnight Special, The (TV show), 378, 379, 400

  Milburn, Amos, 69

  Miller, Glenn, 68, 104, 301

  Million Dollar Quartet (musical), 456–57

  Million Dollar Quartet session, 171–76

  Mills, Irving, 93

  Milton, Roy, 83

  Mississippi, 123, 240, 259, 297, 379, 380

  Mississippi Queen, 418

  Mississippi River, 1–2, 4, 9–12, 23–24

  bridge incident, 52–54

  floods, 19–20, 80

  history of, 23–27

  steamboats, 23, 24

  Mobile, Alabama, 43, 198

  “Money,” 304

  Monkees, 347

  Monroe, Bill, 142

  Montgomery, Gray, 126, 153

  Monument Studios, 321

  Moore, Bob, 412

  Morris, Frank, 327

  Morton, Jelly Roll, 109

  “Mother, the Queen of My Heart,” 362

  motorcycles, 195, 211

  Motown, 299

  movies, 58–59, 194, 230

  Elvis in, 194, 208, 261

  Lewis’s career in, 219–20, 258–59, 300

  Lewis depicted in, 437–40

  Westerns, 59

  See also Hollywood; specific movies

  Mullican, Moon, 72, 75, 89, 193, 280, 292

  Muscle Shoals, 158, 329

  music, 3, 8, 64–76

  censorship of, 197–201, 203, 206, 207

  Haney’s Big House, 77–88, 132, 215, 257, 292, 327

  Lewis’s early interest in, 50–52, 56, 64–76, 77–88, 91–95, 101–5, 123–53

  Memphis, 154–84, 310–12

  Nashville, 141–45

  New Orleans, 109–12, 126

  postwar, 69–74

  softening of rock and roll, 247, 298–300, 319, 391, 404

  Sun Records, 154–84, 197–201, 207–19, 224–26, 260–63, 277–83, 312, 447–48

  See also specific musicians, styles, songs, albums, recording studios, and venues

  Mutrux, Floyd, 456

  “My Blue Heaven,” 68

  “My God Is Real,” 116–17

  “My Old Pal of Yesterday,” 180

  Nashville, 8, 13, 69, 93, 95, 103, 141–45, 155, 208, 302, 312, 314, 321, 416

  country music, 141–44, 332–34, 347

  nightclubs, 143–45

  Nashville Remembers Elvis (TV show), 404

  Nashville Teens, 317

  Natchez, Louisiana, 1, 4, 9, 15, 23, 24, 25, 69, 103–5, 297

  nightclubs, 103–5, 119, 122, 123–53

  Natchez Under the Hill, 23, 104
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  National Enquirer, 421, 443

  NBC, 202, 416

  Nelson, Ricky, 299

  Nelson, Willie, 322, 391, 453

  Nesbit ranch, 379, 395, 406, 413, 417, 421, 443–44, 450, 454, 458, 463, 468

  guided tours, 444, 446

  New France, 22

  New Orleans, 1, 25, 28, 34, 41, 61–63, 69, 70, 78, 80, 81, 109–12, 132, 432

  nightclubs, 109–12, 126

  New Orleans & Northwestern Railroad, 27

  New York, 78, 126, 198, 200–207, 219, 265, 427

  Big Beat tour, 251–56

  Lewis in, 201–7, 221–24, 243–45, 251–56, 266–67, 276–77, 291, 296, 303

  New York Times, 442, 457

  Nichopoulos, George (Dr. Nick), 372, 409–10, 447

  nightclubs, 77–78, 103–5

  Haney’s Big House, 77–88, 132, 215, 257, 292, 327, 432

  Lewis’s early career in, 103–5, 119, 122, 123–53

  Memphis, 310–12, 443

  Nashville, 143–45

  Natchez, 103–5, 119, 122, 123–53

  New Orleans, 109–12, 126

  “No Headstone on My Grave,” 368

  North Carolina, 445

  Oak Ridge Boys, 416

  Odessa, Texas, 193–94

  Ohio, 198, 290, 412

  Old Grey Whistle Test (TV show), 410

  “Old Rugged Cross,” 65, 113, 360

  Oliver, King, 109

  “Once More with Feeling,” 349, 376

  “One Rose That’s Left in My Heart,” 373–74, 419

  “Only the Lonely, 299

  Orbison, Roy, 160, 193–94, 207, 213, 299, 426

  death of, 448

  organ, 324

  Oriental, Memphis, 310–12

  “Over the Rainbow,” 410, 411, 455

  Owens, Buck, 391

  Owens, Butch, 394

  P. A. Starck Piano Co., 66

  Page, Jimmy, 453

  Paley, Andy, 440

  Palomino Club, 391–94

  Paramount Theater, New York, 243–44, 251–56, 291, 303

  Paris, 468, 440

  Parker, Colonel Tom, 194, 221, 228, 260, 278, 284, 398

  Parker, Junior, 83, 157, 304

  Pavy, Benjamin, 34

  Payne, Leon, 179

  “Peace in the Valley,” 105, 360

  Pearl, Minnie, 142, 375, 385

  Pearl Harbor, attack on, 57

  Pentecostals, 43–44, 73, 113, 132, 441

  Perkins, Carl, 160, 169–76, 179, 200, 207, 213, 219, 299, 416

  death of, 448

  Lewis and, 169–76, 185–88, 191–92, 426, 427

  Peterson, Gwen, 44

  Phillips, Dewey, 156–57, 158, 164, 167, 168, 177, 196

  Phillips, Jud, 199–203, 221, 234, 241, 247, 250, 259, 262, 266, 282, 308, 314, 326, 364

  Myra scandal and, 266–83

  Phillips, Knox, 402

  Phillips, Sam, 9, 155–70, 186, 247, 262, 312, 365, 391, 402, 415, 429, 441, 442, 447–48, 456

  background of, 157–60

  censorship of, 197–201, 207

  death of, 447–48

  decline of Lewis’s career and, 280–85, 298–301, 313–15, 320

  first impression of Lewis, 166–67

  Lewis and, 155–84, 201, 207–20, 224–26, 234, 241, 277–83, 298–304, 313–15, 319, 340, 447–48

  Myra scandal and, 266–83, 298

  piano, 3, 50–52, 75–76, 91, 142

  boogie-woogie, 75–76

  burning of, 254

  early rock-and-roll, 146–52, 163–70, 186

  inferior-quality, 257–58

  Lewis’s early interest in, 50–52, 56, 64–76, 91–95, 101–5, 123–53

  Lewis’s first, 65–66

  Lewis’s technique on, 129–30, 193, 218, 244, 321, 349

  Paul Whitehead and, 123–30, 152–53

  Piano Red, 156

  Pierce, Webb, 142, 143, 179, 200

  Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 75

  Pittsburgh, 296

  plantations, 24–25, 26

  Platters, 146

  Pleasant Valley Boys, 102

  “Please Send Me Someone to Love,” 83

  Police Story (TV show), 379

  Poole, Doris, 79, 133

  “Poontang,” 271

  Porter, Cole, 198

  Presley, Elvis, 4, 6, 8, 15, 109, 137, 142, 145, 146, 156, 159–60, 167–69, 179, 181, 183, 191, 194–97, 207, 215, 221, 233, 249, 252, 259, 299, 314, 321, 340, 346, 366, 374, 426, 427, 428, 456

  army service of, 245, 260–63, 283

  childhood of, 36, 259

  comeback of, 347–48, 407

  death of, 403–4, 410, 422

  decline of, 245, 260–63, 300, 350–51, 395–400, 403

  drug use, 372, 396, 403, 409–10, 447

  legacy of, 396, 404

  leg shaking of, 184

  Lewis and, 169, 170, 171–76, 194–96, 208–9, 227–30, 234–35, 245, 259–63, 281, 284, 347–48, 350–51, 388–89, 395–404, 408, 441, 466, 468

  loneliness of, 228, 229

  Million Dollar Quartet session, 171–76

  movie career, 194, 208, 261

  Priscilla and, 283–84

  Presley, Priscilla Beaulieu, 283–84

  press, 172, 173, 175

  British, 267–76, 281, 306–9

  on Lewis, 176, 224, 234, 267–80, 306–9, 340, 421–23, 438–39, 445, 448

  Price, Ray, 161, 168

  Prohibition, 33

  prostitution, 23, 26, 105, 109, 198, 432, 435, 442

  “Proud Mary,” 430

  Quaid, Dennis, 437–40

  Quebec, 185, 192

  Rabbit’s Foot Minstrels, 83

  racism, 26, 80, 82, 222, 223, 254, 327

  radio, 34, 64, 69–70, 84, 94, 95, 103, 126, 135, 137, 141, 144, 152, 156, 179, 268

  censorship, 197–201, 207

  country, 344, 346, 366, 390

  gospel, 357

  Lewis’s songs on, 168, 194, 280, 300–301, 325–26, 366

  Louisiana Hayride, 69, 94, 126, 137, 141, 259

  Memphis, 156, 164, 167–69, 194, 196, 279–80

  postwar, 69–70

  See also specific programs

  railroads, 26–27, 41, 54, 55

  Rainwater, Marvin, 185, 187–88

  R&B, 78, 83, 88, 145, 180, 198, 207, 302, 327

  RCA, 143, 159, 300, 321, 456

  Reconstruction, 2, 26, 313

  Record Mirror, 309

  Red, Hot & Blue (radio show), 167, 168, 196

  “Red Hot,” 164

  “Reelin’ and Rockin’,” 431

  Reeves, Del, 333

  Reeves, Gentleman Jim, 232

  “Release Me,” 104

  religion, 4, 5, 38–39, 43–47, 73–75, 78, 105, 112–19, 131, 198, 215–17, 226–27, 229, 305, 354, 356–58, 360–61, 433–34, 435–37, 441, 452, 455

  church music, 67, 73–75, 112–19, 131, 174, 360–62, 363, 402

  Jimmy Swaggart and, 226–27, 356–58, 402, 433–36

  Return of Rock (album), 320, 366

  Reynolds, Debbie, 207

  rhinestones, 142, 144, 345

  Rich, Charlie, 280, 300, 301, 318, 353, 366, 368, 391, 416

  death of, 448

  Richards, Keith, 393, 427, 428, 430, 453, 454, 457

  Righteous Brothers, 299

  “Right Now,” 153

  Riley, Billy Lee, 164–65, 207, 213, 215–18

  “Ring of Fire,” 319

  Ripley Cotton Choppers, 159

  Ripp, Jimmy, 453

  Rivera, Geraldo, 422

  Robertson, Robbie, 453

  Robinson, L. C. “Good Rockin’,” 81

  rockabilly, 8, 64, 153, 186, 187

  rock and roll, 8, 14, 69, 80, 88, 186–87

  censorship of, 197–201, 203, 206, 207

  drugs and drinking, 235–36

  early, 123–30, 144–46, 158–84, 186

  Lewis as face of, 221, 225, 263

  of 1970s, 367


  softening of, 247, 298–300, 319, 391, 404

  Sun Records and, 154–84, 197–201, 207–19, 224–26, 260–63, 277–83, 312, 447–48

  violence in, 253–58

  Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 427–31, 437, 455, 460

  Lewis inducted into, 427–31

  twenty-fifth anniversary, 455

  “Rockin’ My Life Away,” 407, 408, 411

  Rodgers, Jimmie, 9, 28, 47, 68, 70–71, 75, 92, 93, 97, 144, 252, 292, 347, 362, 373, 419, 429, 430, 445, 470

  Rogers, Kenny “Red,” 386, 425

  Rolling Stone, 11, 422, 430, 448

  “The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis,” 422–23

  Rolling Stones, 393, 453, 454, 457

  “Roll Over Beethoven,” 252, 320, 430

  Ronstadt, Linda, 391

  Ronettes, 299

  “Room Full of Roses,” 402

  Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 57

  “Runaway,” 299

  Russell, Jane, 206

  Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, 141–43, 375–77

  St. Louis, 78, 252

  “San Antonio Rose,” 124

  saxophone, 82, 153, 159

  Scandinavia, 440

  “Seasons of the Heart,” 161, 304

  segregation, 26, 80, 82, 222, 223

  Session . . . Recorded in London with Great Guest Artists, The (album), 368

  “Sexy Ways,” 320

  Shaffer, Paul, 428, 430

  Shakespeare, William, 334, 335–42

  Othello, 334, 335, 337

  “Shame on You,” 180

  Shannon, Del, 299

  “She Even Woke me Up to Say Goodbye,” 345

  “She Still Comes Around (To Love What’s Left of Me),” 344–45

  Shindig! (TV show), 319, 327–28, 334

  Shreveport, Louisiana, 69, 94, 137, 155

  Silver, Murray, 437

  “Silver Threads Among the Gold,” 68, 179, 379

  Simmons, Jumpin’ Gene, 384

  Sinatra, Frank, 232, 300

  Sinatra, Nancy, 284

  “Since I Met You, Baby,” 349

  “Skid Row,” 322

  slavery, 24–25, 27, 32

  Slim, Memphis, 83

  Slim, Sunnyland, 83

  Smith, Huey “Piano,” 328

  Smash Records, 314, 319, 327

  end of, 327, 332

  Lewis at, 314, 315, 319–22, 332

  Smith, Huey, 445

  Smith, Pine Top, 150

  Smith, Russ, 181, 193, 204, 222, 223, 267

  Snow, Hank, 137, 156, 172, 179, 375

  Solid Senders, 83

  soul music, 299, 322

  Soul Stirrers, 156

  South, Joe, 366

  Southern Roots (album), 377, 379

  Southwestern Bible Institute, 112–19

  Spector, Phil, 299

  Springsteen, Bruce, 453

  Standard Oil, 28

  Star-Club, Hamburg, 316–18

  “Stardust,” 125

  Starr, Ringo, 454

  steamboats, 23, 24

  Steven Allen Show, The (TV show), 197, 201–7

  Lewis on, 201–7, 224, 291

 

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