Jerry Lee Lewis?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 18 Aug 2004 1:09 pm

I haven't heard much about him lately - is he still active? What age is he now?

It's strange, but of all that early crop of rock'n'rollers, Jerry Lee is the one I would have thought we'd lose first - he seems to have survived almost everyone!

Has anyone seen him lately?

RR

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 18 Aug 2004 1:20 pm

...Jerry Lee is the one I would have thought we'd lose first - he seems to have survived almost everyone!

Perhaps due to the liberal ingestion of preservatives?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 18 Aug 2004 2:25 pm

I saw him on a Kid Rock TV show a couple months ago.

Tay Joslin · Post by **Tay Joslin** » 18 Aug 2004 2:47 pm

I cannot say for sure exactly how old he is, but "The Killer" has got to be around 70 or better. As far as what he's been up to lately, he went through a nasty divorce here in Memphis last year with his wife of about twenty years. I don't remember her name, but she was his third or fourth wife. He played it up real good, too! He dressed in a bathrobe and had one of his personal assistants push him in a wheelchair through the courthouse in Memphis. It made all of the papers! Such drama is not unusual with him. He has a ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi, which isn't too far outside of Memphis. The number at the ranch is (662) 429-1290. The grand tour is $15.00 for adults and is by reservation only. Also, check out www.jerryleelewis.com/ranch.htm for more information. TAKE CARE!

Yours truly,
Tay Joslin
Newbern, Tennessee
U.S.A.

Jason Powers · Post by **Jason Powers** » 18 Aug 2004 6:05 pm

According to www.allmusic.com Jerry Lee's birthday is September 29, 1935, which means he'll celebrate his 69th birthday next month.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 18 Aug 2004 9:36 pm

Jerry Lee will be one of the headliners in Oneida Casino's Rockin' 50s Fest II, in April 2005. So technically, yes, he is still active. The promoter there has his doubts though

The festival however, is so big and filled with bands and artists, that The Killer is only a drop of cream in the coffee. Other acts among the line up are Hank Thompson, Ike Turner, Charlie Louvin, Wanda Jackson, The Texas Playboys, Young Jessie, Billy Lee Riley, Ruth Brown,Big Sandy & The Flyright Boys, The Lucky Stars, Narvel Felts etc. And dozens of bands from all over the world. The festival runs for six days and each day there will be around 20 or more acts. The complete line up is not confirmed yet, but will be in a matter of weeks. The best part of this is the ticket price; $40 for the six-day pass and $10 for one day. I believe Oneida Casino will put the line up and info on their website, once it's all confirmed. So anyone looking for an overdoze of good live music ( and seeing many of these legends perhaps for the last time ) , should consider a trip to GreenBay next April. [This message was edited by Jussi Huhtakangas on 18 August 2004 at 10:38 PM.]

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 19 Aug 2004 4:17 am

Thanks, guys.

I was touring with David Allan Coe in '88, and Jerry Lee was on the same show. He was somewhat unpredictable - dreadfully uncoordinated one night, and brilliant the next. I know that could have been the bourbon, but he drank that all the time, so something else was responsible, I guess.

He had a 21-year old drummer (Danny something) who was terrified of Lewis! Physically intimidated, I mean. Danny would spend time with us just trying to relax, and I doubt he stayed in the gig long after that.

I suppose it would be charitable to call JLL a 'character', but there seemd to be something sinister at work within him.

I found David Allan Coe 'unpredictable' - musically, anyway

- but, to the best of my knowledge he wasn't armed when he went on stage. I suppose that means we were marginally safer than Jerry Lee's guys....

I've always thought Lewis had an amazing talent, though.

RR

Mike Headrick · Post by **Mike Headrick** » 22 Aug 2004 12:30 pm

I can't resist telling this Jerry Lee story, which is actually one of several memories I have of one of the most unique personalitlies in show business.

In 1971 or'72 I was playing guitar in a band at the Thunderbird in Memphis. Jerry Lee liked the group and he came out two or three nights a week and always sat in, which he loved to do. One night he was bearing down on one of his signature ballads which had a retard and improvised rest in it (resting on a 5 chord). When we got to that 5 chord I played it as an augmented. Instead of winding back up after the pause, he turned around on the piano stool, gave me that smirky smile and lazily said "That's a beautiful chord Killer,...........but it don't go in THIS song." I appreciated his dramatic and comical way of saying "K.I.S.S." and never played a passing chord behind him again.

Bob Wood · Post by **Bob Wood** » 22 Aug 2004 12:45 pm

Roger, I know this is off topic and all but I heard some stories about David Allen Coe, and I wondered if you knew. Someone told me that he was notorious about beating guitars players up right on stage if they didn't play things just right. True, false? Email me so that we don't get in trouble with bOb.

Bob

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 22 Aug 2004 2:13 pm

Some of us on the bus have been listening to Jerry Lee lately...the Killer RULES!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 22 Aug 2004 7:04 pm

Bob

My experience of DAC was limited to a two-week tour, so I can't say much.

He came across to work for London impresario, Mervyn Conn (he used to produce the Wembley Country Festival) in '87, but Mervyn had provided musicians of doubtful calibre! Coe sacked the band in the middle of a song and continued on his own! Next time, he told Mervyn, I want decent players.

Whether he got them or not in 1988 is not for me to say, 'cause I was one of them, but I think we were a marked improvement - he seemd to like us, anyway.

He borrowed a guitar once he reached London, but steadfastly refused to tune it - if we wanted it to sound tolerable, we'd have to do it ourselves. He brought an African-American gentleman as his music director, and he gleefully confessed that he only hired the guy to cause controversy at some of the 'redneck' venues that he played. This 'MD' (named Kriss Famous!) could barely play, and certainly didn't really know Coe's material - it was an odd tactic!

I can't say he ever was physically violent, but we found him a bigoted and unpleasant man.

The tour was made bearable for me by the presence of Newgrass Revival (with Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, John Cowan and Pat Flynn) as well as Emmylou Harris with Frank Reckard and Steve Fishell in her band. Jerry Lee Lewis was the icing on the cake - when he was good, he was great!

It was an unforgettable experience, but I feel that we drew the 'short straw' being saddled with Mr Coe. I know we had everyone's sympathy!

RR

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 23 Aug 2004 1:11 pm

You might not believe this story,but around 1968,Edgar Allen Coe,as I referred to him,he was scary,got hooked up with Shelby Singleton.Shelby bought him a long black limo to tour with.I'm not sure how long he kept it but I remember getting a ride in it to a party on music row from lower broad.

Bob Wood · Post by **Bob Wood** » 23 Aug 2004 1:23 pm

Wow! Maybe those stories were true then! Thanks.

Bob