Piano, Fire, and Mayhem: The Legacy of Jerry Lee Lewis
Best known for his explosive performances, boogie-woogie piano chops, and controversial personal life, Jerry Lee Lewis lived life in the fast lane.
His breakthrough came in 1957 with Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On, released on Sun Records—the same label Elvis had started with before leaving a couple of years earlier. That same year, Jerry Lee dropped his signature tune, Great Balls of Fire. Sticking with the same promiscuous theme, it sold a million copies in just ten days.
Both were covers, but Jerry Lee made them completely his own with his ferocious energy and pounding piano style.
Just as he seemed unstoppable, everything came crashing down when it was revealed he had married his 13-year-old cousin. Initially, he lied and claimed she was 15. When the truth emerged, his career took a nosedive.
In the ’60s, he made something of a comeback by rebranding himself as a country artist, following a divorce from said cousin. Still, nothing matched the sheer impact of 1957, when he became a global superstar.
Covers released as singles after 1957 include:
What’d I Say (1961)
Money (1961)
Sweet Little Sixteen (1962)
Good Golly Miss Molly (1962)
Green Green Grass of Home (1965)
Roll Over Beethoven (1970)
Me and Bobby McGee (1971)
Georgia on My Mind (1977)
Save the Last Dance for Me (1961 and 1979)
Over the Rainbow (1980)
I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (1982)
Honky Tonk Women (2007)
Despite the scandal and declining chart presence from the ’60s onward, Jerry Lee Lewis remained a huge live draw. He continued to tour and collaborate, including on the Class of ’55 album alongside Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him the 24th greatest artist of all time.
Jerry Lee Lewis Tunes | Related Pages
Georgia On My Mind | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G | B7/F# B7 |
Georgia, Georgia…
Great Balls Of Fire | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Great Balls Of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| N.C (G A B ) | C N.C | N.C (C D E) |
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Great Balls Of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Honky Tonk Women | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G | G | C F/A | C |
I met a gin-soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis…
Me and Bobby McGee | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recordings.
| G | G |
Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin’ for a train…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Money (That’s What I Want) | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play Money (That’s What I Want) by Barrett Strong using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, a backing track, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| F N.C | N.C Bb C |
The best things in life are free…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Money (That’s What I Want) – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Over The Rainbow | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy using chords, lyrics, TAB, chord analysis, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Gsus2 /F# | Em /D | Bm7b13 | G7 Amadd4 /B |
Somewhere over the rainbow…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Over The Rainbow – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Roll Over Beethoven | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| D7 | G7 | D7 | D7 |
Well, I’ma write a little letter, I’m gonna mail it to my local DJ…
Jerry Lee Lewis on the web
