Nesbit's Jerry Lee Lewis touring at 74
By ROBERT LEE LONG
Community Editor
Published: Monday, September 28, 2009 10:06 PM CDT
NESBIT — After 74 years, Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis is still alive and kicking, celebrating his birthday Tuesday on the road as he promotes his latest release.
In advance of his new album, Lewis recently released the single “Mean Old Man,” written by Kris Kristofferson.
The Ferriday, La., native and longtime DeSoto County resident has lived in Nesbit since 1973 when he moved into the sprawling Lewis Ranch off Malone Road. The Lewis estate soon became a tourist attraction with its piano-shaped swimming pool and antique car collection.
However, the singer closed the ranch to tours in 2006, citing privacy reasons.
Tourists were seen paying tribute to the singer as they snapped photos outside the ranch's gates last week.
Lewis, the last sole surviving member of the "Million-Dollar Quartet," a phrase coined by Sun Record producer Sam Phillips, has outlived contemporaries Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, two children and several ex-wives.
Lewis has lived most of his life in his adopted state of Mississippi and has played local venues in recent years, including concerts at nearby casinos in Tunica.
Lewis still travels extensively. On Oct. 2 he is slated to appear at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. He most recently appeared in Brazil and has upcoming shows in the Czech Republic, Austria and Sweden.
His raucous, rowdy musical style catapulted Lewis to fame in the 1950s with his own unique brand of explosive piano playing. He learned to sing and play the piano at an early age in the old Assembly of God Church on Texas Avenue in Ferriday, a small, close-knit community across the Mississippi River from Natchez.
Lewis, who was one of the first inductees into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, is also featured in an exhibit at the DeSoto County Museum in Hernando. The singer donated one of his traveling pianos several years ago along with a fringed jacket he wore on the "Tonight Show" to the museum in Hernando.
Brian Hicks, executive director of the DeSoto County Museum, said Lewis draws as many fans as those of John Grisham, a former DeSoto County resident.
"People go to Graceland and then they drive down to Nesbit to see Jerry Lee's house," Hicks said. "We have quite a few who come by to see his exhibit here."
Lewis keeps a low profile while at home in Nesbit, where he resides with daughter Phoebe. He is often seen driving one of his vintage cars around town and frequents the drive-through window at Happy Daze, a local retro-style restaurant.
Several weeks ago, Lewis was sighted on his front porch, perhaps contemplating his long career.
Although an early Rock 'n' Roller, Lewis turned to singing country tunes in the 1960s and then resurrected his career with a comeback in the late 1970s at rock and blues revival concerts across the country.
Lewis was featured as a performer at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards last year.
Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him No. 24 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Robert Lee Long: rlong@desototimestribune.com or at 662-429-6397, Ext. 252
Desoto Times Tribune > News > Nesbit's Jerry Lee Lewis touring at 74