International
Jerry Lee Lewis dead at 87─── 09:49 Sat, 29 Oct 2022
Jerry Lee Lewis, a scandal-generating kingpin of 1950s American rock and roll, who played a pivotal role in shaping the genre's sound, died on Friday. He was 87 years old.
Famous for his flowing blond locks, rowdy piano beats and outrageous stage presence, the star best known for his classic "Great Balls of Fire" died of natural causes, his publicist told AFP.
"He is ready to leave," an accompanying statement quoted the artist's wife Judith as saying.
The statement said Lewis suffered years of illnesses and injuries: "He had abused his body so thoroughly as a young man he was given little chance of lasting through middle age, let alone old age," it read.
A friend and rival of Elvis Presley, Lewis's career spanned more than half a century and produced a wealth of eyebrow-raising stories about his numerous wives - including a teenage cousin - drunken rampages and run-ins with the government over back taxes.
