The Killer, the Thriller & the Chiller: Jerry Lee Lewis with Sisters Linda Gail and Frankie Jean
From small town Louisiana to Memphis, from hellfire to honky tonk, we trace the meteoric rise, fall and rebound of rocknroll’s most wayward son— the late Jerry Lee Lewis. We revisit conversations with the Killer about his hits, his misses and being the last man standing of the “Million Dollar Quartet,” which also included Elvis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. Jerry Lee’s sister Frankie Jean Lewis, a.k.a. the Chiller, gives us a tour of the family’s homestead in Ferriday, LA. Natchez, MS bluesman Hezekiah Early shares memories of Haney’s Big House, the Chitlin’ Circuit nightclub where underage Jerry Lee sneaked in to hear boogie woogie. Drummer J.M. Van Eaton describes what it was like to record with the Killer during his early Memphis days. Sun Records publicist Barbara Sims recalls the scandal that derailed the pianoman’s career. And Linda Gail Lewis, nicknamed the Thriller, tells of her brother’s second act as a country star and the string of duets they recorded together, as well as her own career as a pianist and dueting with Van Morrison. Plus, we hear Jerry Lee Lewis’s collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Kris Kristofferson and Gillian Welch, among others. All killer, no filler, this week on American Routes.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Instrumental The Million Dollar Quartet
The Complete Million Dollar Quartet, Sony/BMG
Lewis Boogie Jerry Lee Lewis
It Won't Happen with Me, Sun
Religious Discussion Jerry Lee Lewis
Classic, Bear Family
Down By the Riverside The Million Dollar Quartet
The Complete Million Dollar Quartet, Sun
Blues Like Midnight Jerry Lee Lewis
Rock & Roll Time, Vanguard
SEGMENT: JM Van Eaton
SEGMENT: Barbara Sims
Instrumental: Pumpin' Piano Rock Jerry Lee Lewis
Classic, Bear Family
SEGMENT: Jerry Lee Lewis
SEGMENT: Haney's Big House
Whole Lotta Shakin Big Maybelle
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Okeh
Pee Wee's Place Jerry Lee Lewis
Killer Country, Mercury
I Get the Blues When It Rains The Hawk (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Single, Phillips International
SEGMENT: Lewis Family Museum
It'll Be Me Jerry Lee Lewis
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/It'll Be Me, Sun
Waiting for a Train Jerry Lee Lewis
Killer Country, Mercury
Please Release Me Jerry Lee Lewis and Gillian Welch
Mean Old Man, Verve
End Bed: Alabama Jubilee Jerry Lee Lewis
Rockin' My Life Away- the Jerry Lee Lewis Collection, Warner
HOUR TWO
Open Open: Lewis Workout Jerry Lee Lewis
Classic, Bear Family
SEGMENT: Linda Gail Lewis
You Win Again Van Moorrison and Linda Gail Lewis
You Win Again, Exile
I Can Help Jerry Lee Lewis
The Hits, Mercury
Instrumental: In the Mood The Hawk (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Single, Phillips International
Rock and Roll Time Jerry Lee Lewis
Rock and Roll Time, Vanguard
Another Place Another Time Jerry Lee Lewis
Killer Country, Mercury
Me and Bobby McGee Jerry Lee Lewis
Me and Bobby McGee, Mercury
Move on Down the Line Jerry Lee Lewis
Original Golden Hits Vol. 1, Sun
SEGMENT: Jerry Lee Lewis 2
Instrumental: San Antonio Rose The Hawk (Jerry Lee Lewis)
The Caribou Ranch Sessions: 1980-1986, HMC Records
Pink Cadillac Jerry Lee Lewis with Eric Clapton and James Burton
Last Man Standing, Shangri-La
Mean Old Man Jerry Lee Lewis with Kris Kristofferson and Ronnie Wood
Mean Old Man, Shangri-La
A Damn Good Country Song Jerry Lee Lewis
Killer Country, Mercury
End Bed: Black Bottom Stomp and I Shall Not Be Moved The Million Dollar Quartet
The Complete Million Dollar Quartet, Sony/BMG