One of the last of the original pioneers of rock had died.
Jerry Lee Lewis was 87.
A release from his publicist says Lewis passed away at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis, with his wife at his side.
Lewis had suffered through several medical issues in recent years and was confined to a bed when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last week.
Known as the Killer because of a schoolroom fight when he was a kid, Lewis’ music career began in 1955 and launched by Sam Phillips of Sun Records, who also helped Elvis Presley with his start.
He was also the last surviving member of the Million Dollar quarter, an impromptu recording session that included Lewis and Presley with Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.
Lewis is best known for his earlier hits such as ‘Great Balls of Fire’ and ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On,’ but had a dozen gold albums in both rock and country that earned him several awards, including four Grammys.
Rolling Stone magazine named him No. 24 in their list of the Greatest Artists of All Time.
He was inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame in 1986.
