Rock and Roll
Jerry Lee Lewis, aka The Killer, was born on September 29, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana. He is a singer, pianist, musician, songwriter, and actor.
Here’s some of the joy in early rock and roll from Jerry Lee Lewis, The Killer from Ferriday, Louisiana. “Great Balls of Fire” was written by R&B great Otis Blackwell (credited as Jack Hammer). Blackwell was a songwriter, singer, and pianist who had a big influence on rock and roll (e.g., “Fever, Breathless,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “All Shook Up,” “Handy Man”). It was recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis and was featured in the 1957 movie Jamboree. Besides Lewis, the film starred Dick Clark, Frankie Avalon, Fats Domino, Buddy Knox, Charlie Gracie, Carl Perkins, Slim Whitman, Paul Carr, and Freda Holloway.
The song propelled Lewis into international fame, coming on the heels of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” “Great Balls of Fire” sold one million copies in the first ten days after its release and become one of the world’s best-selling singles of all time. It went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100, and #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart and the U.K. Singles Chart.
