Walnut Ridge in Lawrence County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Jerry Lee Lewis
— Rock 'n Roll Highway 67 —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 3, 2021
1. Jerry Lee Lewis Marker
Inscription.
Jerry Lee Lewis. . "Great Balls of Fire” was his signature hit, and the title could just, as easily have described Jerry Lee Lewis himself. His unbounded energy on the stage made Jerry Lee a nearly unrivaled performer, unlike anything most crowds had ever beheld on Rock 'n' Roll Highway 67, or anywhere else.
Jerry Lee brought his rousing show to northeast Arkansas on several occasions. A ticket stub from a Walnut Ridge performance shows that it cost 50 cents to see him play at Fireman's Hall.
And play he did. Jerry Lee seemingly attacked a piano, thrashing it with both hands, and sometimes his feet. He would often stand as he played, famously kicking the bench aside. His wild hair and wild eyes only enhanced the rowdy performance.
Jerry Lee was raised in Ferriday, Louisiana, He grew up playing and singing with two cousins, country singer Mickey Gilley and evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who would also achieve fame.
As a young man, Jerry Lee aspired to be a minister himself, but was told his animated style of music was not suitable for the church!
He eventually signed on with Sun Records, where Sam Phillips discovered how to capture the reckless energy of Jerry Lee in the studio: He simply rolled, the tape and let the musician do his own thing.
One of those sessions turned up the tune "Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On." The record was banned as too, suggestive in many cities, but Jerry Lee's performance of it on the Steve Allen Show in 1957 made it a smash.
"Great Balls of Fire,” released later in '57, was a phenomenal hit that has endured across the decades. “Breathless” climbed the charts for him in '58, but his career was brought to a standstill later that year when it was revealed his new wife, Myra, was a cousin and only 13 years old, nine years younger than Jerry Lee.
He regained popularity as a country singer in the 1960s and '70s with a number of hits, including “What's Made Milwaukee Famous," "One Minute Past Eternity," and “Middle Age Crazy.”
[Inset] ,
Million Dollar Quartet. On December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley popped by the Sun Records studios in Memphis for a casual visit. He ran into rising star Cari Perkins, who was there to record some new material, and a promising young piano player named Jerry Lee Lewis. Johnny Cash also happened by that night. The result was a rare assemblage of rockabilly talent. Sun owner Sam Phillips, never one to miss an opportunity, rolled tape and the Million Dollar Quartet enjoyed an impromptu jam session that is now the stuff of legend. All four of the singers performed at various times along Rock 'n' Roll Highway 67.
"Great Balls of Fire” was his signature hit, and the title could just, as easily
have described Jerry Lee Lewis himself. His unbounded energy on the
stage made Jerry Lee a nearly unrivaled performer, unlike anything most crowds had ever beheld on Rock 'n' Roll Highway 67, or anywhere else.
Jerry Lee brought his rousing show to northeast Arkansas on several
occasions. A ticket stub from a Walnut Ridge performance shows that it cost 50 cents to see him play at Fireman's Hall.
And play he did. Jerry Lee seemingly attacked a piano, thrashing it with both hands, and sometimes his feet. He would often stand as he played, famously
kicking the bench aside. His wild hair and wild eyes only enhanced the rowdy performance.
Jerry Lee was raised in Ferriday,
Louisiana, He grew up playing and
singing with two cousins, country singer
Mickey Gilley and evangelist Jimmy
Swaggart, who would also achieve fame.
As a young man, Jerry Lee aspired to
be a minister himself, but was told his
animated style of music was not suitable
for the church!
He eventually signed on with Sun
Records, where Sam Phillips discovered
how to capture the reckless energy of
Jerry Lee in the studio: He simply rolled,
the tape and let the musician do his own
thing.
One of those sessions turned up the tune
"Whole Lot of
Click or scan to see this page online
Shakin' Goin' On." The
record was banned as too, suggestive in
many cities, but Jerry Lee's performance
of it on the Steve Allen Show in 1957 made
it a smash.
"Great Balls of Fire,” released later in '57,
was a phenomenal hit that has endured
across the decades. “Breathless” climbed
the charts for him in '58, but his career was
brought to a standstill later that year when
it was revealed his new wife, Myra, was a
cousin and only 13 years old, nine years
younger than Jerry Lee.
He regained popularity as a country singer
in the 1960s and '70s with a number of
hits, including “What's Made Milwaukee
Famous," "One Minute Past Eternity," and
“Middle Age Crazy.”
[Inset]
Million Dollar Quartet
On December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley popped by the Sun
Records studios in Memphis for a casual visit. He ran
into rising star Cari Perkins, who was there to record
some new material, and a promising young piano player
named Jerry Lee Lewis. Johnny Cash also happened by
that night. The result was a rare assemblage of rockabilly
talent. Sun owner Sam Phillips, never one to miss an
opportunity, rolled tape and the Million Dollar Quartet
enjoyed an impromptu jam session that is now the stuff of
legend. All four of the singers performed at various times
along Rock 'n' Roll Highway 67.
Topics. This
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 3, 2021
2. Jerry Lee Lewis Marker
historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is December 4, 1956.
Location. 36° 4.026′ N, 90° 57.442′ W. Marker is in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, in Lawrence County. Marker is on SW Front Street south of West Elm Street. Located at Guitar Walk near the Walnut Ridge Train Station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 109 SW Front St, Walnut Ridge AR 72476, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The markers are arrayed around an epiphone casino shaped guitar.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 3, 2021
4. Guitar Walk at Cavenaugh Park
The Guitar Walk is a 115 foot long concrete guitar, complete with frets, and strings. Along the edges are interpretive markers that pay tribute to the early legends that gave birth to Rock n’ Roll, at venues along Rock n’ Roll Highway 67 that runs through the area. The free walk includes audio narration by none other than legendary Sun Studio recording artist, Sonny Burgess.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 7, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
