On Ron’s Golden Oldies this week…
Ron is featuring pioneer Rock and Roll artist JERRY LEE LEWIS on the program this Thursday
Streaming Live on Northside Radio FM99.3 Sydney’s leading Community Radio Station.
“Rock and Roll’s first great wild man“
Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935 – October 28, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Nicknamed “The Killer“, he was described as “rock and roll’s first great wild man and one of the most influential pianists of the 20th century”.
A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis made his early recordings in 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. “Crazy Arms” sold 300,000 copies in the South, and his 1957 hit “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” shot Lewis to fame worldwide. He followed this with the major hits “Great Balls of Fire“, “Breathless”, and “High School Confidential”.
Lewis had a dozen gold records in rock and country. He won four Grammy awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and two Grammy Hall of Fame Awards. Lewis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and his pioneering contribution to the genre was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
He was also a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022. In 1989, his life was chronicled in the movie Great Balls of Fire, starring Dennis Quaid. In 2003, Rolling Stone listed his box set All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology at number 242 on their list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2004, they ranked him No. 24 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Lewis was the last surviving member of Sun Records’ Million Dollar Quartet and the album Class of ’55, which also included Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Elvis Presley. Music critic Robert Christgau said of Lewis: “His drive, his timing, his offhand vocal power, his unmistakable boogie-plus piano, and his absolute confidence in the face of the void make Jerry Lee the quintessential rock and roller.” Between 1957 and 1978 Jerry Lee had 6 hits on the Australian Charts, including 3 top 10’s. We lost Jerry on 28 October 2022.
Ron will play many of Jerry Lee’s hits during the show, along with many more of the early pioneers.
Tune in this Thursday, noon to 4pm right here on Northside Radio
Text your jukebox requests to Ron on 0418 246812
Listen Again
Recent Posts
- Ray Hood Interviews Deb Conway
Ray Hood chats with Deborah Conway about her career and inspirations, working with Pete Townshend, Ute Lempe, John Lee Hooker… - Ron’s Golden Oldies – Featuring – Bobby Vee
On Ron’s Golden Oldies this week he’ll feature music by Bobby Vee This week featuring songs Bobby Vee, an original… - Ron’s Golden Oldies – Featuring – rocker Eddie Cochran
On Ron’s Golden Oldies this week he’ll feature music by Eddie Cochran This week featuring songs from rock n roll… - Ron’s Golden Oldies – Featuring – rocker Johnny Burnette
On Ron’s Golden Oldies this week he’ll feature music by American rockabilly singer songwriter Johnny Burnette This week featuring songs… - Ron’s Golden Oldies – Featuring – the 2UE top 40 chart of 11 March 1961On Ron’s Golden Oldies this week he’ll play songs from the 2UE top 40 chart of 11 March 1961… This…
- Ron’s Golden Oldies – Featuring – GENE PITNEY
On Ron’s Golden Oldies this week… Ron is featuring pioneer Rock and Roll artist GENE PITNEY on the program this…