Happy 75th birthday, Jerry Lee Lewis! Here's a link to The Killer's

[old mark]

first ever TV appearance-the Steve Allen Show on July 28, 1957. Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yRdDnrB5kM

Allen was a pianist himself and he loved this performance so much he had Lewis on his show 3 times in '57, and helped his early career really take off.

FWIW, I stayed up late to watch this show...I was almost 10 years old...I still remember it very well.

Happy Birthday to The Last Man Standing, one of the pioneers of Rock n Roll.

He is still performing regularly, and kicking ass.

Wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lee_Lewis


mark

[nuxvomica]

1. My brother is a huge fan

He finally met him a few years ago backstage at a performance and Jerry spent quite a bit of time talking with him. He may have mellowed over the years but he still rocks.

[old mark]

3. A few years ago, Lewis did a show for Austin City Limits...they asked him to

come back again to do another set, and he sent word thruogh his management,"Mr. Lewis feels he sould not improve on that performance and will not return." In other words, that was his best show...and it is on CD somewhere...


mark

[Orrex]

2. In a few years his wife will be able to have a drink with him

Heh heh. I kid The Killer.

[nolabear]

4. Whoo! That was better than coffee this early morning!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. Saw him at Circle Star Theater in San Carlos...

...around the time that he had his hit version of "Over The Rainbow." The Circle Star Theater was and extremely cool, intimate theater with a revolving stage, although some performers hated it. Emmylou Harris told the audience during her performance that "I shouldn't be revolving...YOU should be revolving!"

Anyway...

...the circular stage was in the middle of the hall and there were about 8 aisles that fed out from it to the back of the hall. Jerry Lee was performing and had his shades on. A woman walked down the aisle with her camera and got as close as she could to the stage (maybe 10 feet away). He stopped playing, turned, slowly lifted the shades, and shot her that "Killer" look. You could literally see this woman freeze with fear. She just stood there clutching her camera. He kept staring for what seemed like an eternity and said "Well...what are ya WAITIN' for?"

She slowly withdrew to her seat without taking the photo. Jerry Lee chuckled softly, lowered the shades back down over his eyes, and finished the song.

:-)

[mitchum]

6. I get more of a visceral kick from Jerry Lee's work...

than that of any of the other founders.
Sorry, Chuck.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

7. Live At The Star Club

1. Mean Woman Blues
2. High School Confidential
3. Money (That's What I Want)
4. Matchbox
5. What'd I Say, Pt. 1
6. What'd I Say, Pt. 2
7. Great Balls of Fire
8. Good Golly Miss Molly
9. Lewis Boogie
10. Your Cheatin' Heart
11. Hound Dog
12. Long Tall Sally
13. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
14. Down the Line

http://www.amazon.com/Live-at-Star-Club-Hamburg/dp/B0000282YX/

Rolling Stone: "'Live At The Star Club, Hamburg' is not an album, it's a crime scene: Jerry Lee Lewis slaughters his rivals in a thirteen-song set that feels like one long convulsion. Recorded April 5th, 1964, this is the earliest and most feral of Lewis' concert releases from his wilderness years ..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_the_Star_Club,_Hamburg

[mitchum]

8. That is a mindblowing concert...

hearing it made me want to
keep playing rockandroll
AND
quit playing rockandroll