MEMPHIS – Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and rock legend Jerry Lee Lewis is recovering in a Memphis hospital after suffering a stroke Thursday.
Doctors say the stroke was “minor” and that Lewis is expected to make a full recovery.
Lewis, 83, known as The Killer, was a major star in the 1950s with such hits as Great Balls Of Fire, Whole Lotta Shakin Going On and High School Confidential. He also had several county hits in the 1960s and 1970s.
Lewis was born Sept. 29, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana.He signed with Sun Records in 1956 and rapidly rose to stardom with previously unseen energy and killer piano action. He was the first person inducted into the first class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
In 1956, he recorded his first single, a cover of Ray Price’s “Crazy Arms,” which did well locally. Lewis also worked on some recording sessions with Carl Perkins. While working at Sun, he and Perkins jammed with Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. This session by the “Million Dollar Quartet” was recorded at the time, but it was not released until much later.
When he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s first class in 1986, there was a strong resurgence in his rock & roll career and music. A new generation of listeners got introduced to Lewis through the 1989 biopic “Great Balls of Fire”, when Lewis was played by actor Dennis Quaid.
None of Lewis’ scheduled shows have been affected, according to publicist, Zach Farnum. Lewis will also soon publish a new gospel album.
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