Jerry Lee Lewis is famously known for his innovative and flamboyant piano-playing — he started his musical journey in the 1950s’ as one of the rock music’s early showman. His musical talents became the most important part of his early life.
Lewis taught himself to play the piano at an early age and sang in church growing up. At the age of 9, he would copy the way their church preachers and black musicians playing style. He would listen to radio shows such as the Grand Ole Opry and Louisiana Hayride. He admired musicians such as Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, and Al Jolson and were somewhat his early influences.
At the age of 10, Lewis’ dad mortgaged their farm so he can buy him his first piano, and by the age of 14, Lewis started playing and became a local star when he performed for the opening of a local car dealership — showing his piano skills. Around this age, Lewis gave up on studying and had focused on music.
Rising to the top, Lewis found himself in Memphis, Tennessee working as a studio musician for Sun Studios. In 1956, he recorded his first single, “Crazy Arms,” originally recorded by Ray Price.
Lewis’ most iconic song was “Great Balls of Fire,” and he had proven that he got what it takes to become great — and with that, he became a star. He was the first act inducted into the first class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.