Books like Jerry Lee Lewis by Rick Bragg

Rick Bragg’s biography of Jerry Lee Lewis traces the drummer‑pianist’s journey from a childhood in Ferriday, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi, to becoming a monumental figure on the American musical landscape. The book details his record‑setting performances, including the incendiary hits “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” which electrified rock and roll’s early rhythm. It also examines the controversies that marked his career—such as riots sparked by his stage presence and the scandal surrounding his marriage to a teenage cousin—alongside his personal struggles with addiction, family tragedies, and an IRS raid that left him penniless. Bragg records how Lewis performed alongside icons like Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, and Kid Rock, cementing his legacy as one of the most creative and influential figures in American popular culture and a quintessential Southern experience.

First publish date: 2014