His own story is the killers life as he lived it and as he shared it over two years with our greatest bard of southern life, rick bragg. There are two great themes running through this book. Thanks to amazons excellent service the book arrived yesterday morning at 11am and it now 3pm on the following day and it has taken me almost every hour since to read it. Jerry lee lewis finally tells his story the newsstar.
Book overview for nearly sixty years, jerry lee lewis has been a monumental figure in american life. Luckily theres larry mcmurtry, humphrey bogart and jerry lee lewis. An epic life deserves an epic narrative, and pulitzer prize winner bragg all over but the shoutin delivers such with this major work on rock and roll pioneer jerry lee lewis. During the session for the seminal great balls of fire, jerry lee lewis and sun records boss sam phillips engaged in an impassioned. Lewis, born in 1935 delivered by his father and among the few remaining stars from the early days of rock n roll, cooperated eagerlyif not always accuratelywith bragg the most they ever had, 2011, etc. The jessica lynch story, the authorized biography of american pow jessica lynch, the most they ever had, jerry lee lewis. The result is a story of fire and faith and resilience, informed by rick bragg s deep understanding of the american spirit, and rich with jerry lee s own unforgettable voice. The greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling author rick bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, jerry lee. His own story at miami book fair international 2014. In october of 2014 the killer released his first ever biography with pulitzer prize winning author rick bragg.
Bullets play an important role in jerry lee lewis, starting at the very beginning. Jerry lee lewis was a louisianaborn supernova who helped create rock n roll and raced toward stardom in the 1950s until his marriage to his yearold cousin myra helped turn a 1958. The editor wanted more about his musical life, more like a comprehensive musical anthology or a great icon. Jerry lee lewis is quite simply one of the best books about rock and roll ever. Rick bragg on jerry lee lewis at 2014 miami book fair youtube. The wildest of the early rock and rollers, he electrified the world with hit records including whole lotta shakin goin on, great balls of fire.
Rick bragg has turned it into literature, fitting in somewhere between william. The journalist has plenty of space in alabama, but it still gets lonesome. Jerry lee lewis chuck berry chicago tribune keith richards bruce springsteen used books bestselling author good music storytelling rick bragg is a pulitzer prizewinning journalist and the author of the new york times bestsellers all over but the shoutin, avas man, the prince of frogtown and i am a soldier, too. Bragg conducted multiple long interviews with the musician, providing the framework for the book, which uses novelistic style and detail while richly describing lewiss early life in louisiana and mississippi, his youthful. Bragg s fascination for jerry lee lewis wins through, and his shining a light on the eternal dichotomy between sin and salvation makes for a fascinating, distinctly american story.
The story of jerry lee lewis has inspired songs and articles, books and films, but in these pages rick bragg restores a human complexity missing from other. Jerry lee lewis is one of the most colorful characters is musical history and perhaps also one of the most misunderstood as well. His own story and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Writer rick bragg, while spending some time at his home in fairhope, ala. Amazingly, the 79yearold lewis has survived it all. Rick bragg s biography of jerry lee lewis really is the business. Rick bragg talks about jerry lee lewis at the louisiana book festival in baton rouge saturday. Browse rick bragg s bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. The result is a story of fire and faith and resilience, informed by rick braggs deep understanding of the american spirit, and rich with jerry lee s own unforgettable voice.
Rich with lewis own words, framed by bragg s richly atmospheric narrative, this is the last great untold rockandroll story, come to life on the page. Rick braggs conversations with jerry lee lewis form the backbone of the authors new book, jerry lee lewis. New york times bestseller the greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling author rick bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, jerry lee lewisand gets his own story, from the source, for the very first time. Rick bragg books list of books by author rick bragg.
His own story, a biography of the rock and roll legend, my southern journey, and the best cook in the world. The jessica lynch story, the authorized biography of. Jerry lee lewis liked sex, drugs and rock n roll before. His own story, paperback by bragg, rick, isbn 0062078240, isbn 9780062078247, brand new, free shipping in the us draws on more than two years of interviews between the pulitzer prizewinning writer and the rock and roll hall of fame inductee to document lewis rebellious youth, marriages, party lifestyle, irs setbacks and brushes with death. Rick bragg s pacey, extensively researched biography draws a portrait of a bullish man doing all the things he believes god will forgive him for, repenting, and. Author rick bragg tells jerry lee lewis story in a way no one else can. Rick bragg on jerry lee lewis at 2014 miami book fair. Rick bragg s writing is about the only thing i really liked in this book. From this book by rick bragg in chapter four i learnt that jerry lee lewis also had a musical mentor named mr paul whitehead, a blind piano player and multi instrumentalist who the killer saw in the early fifties in the local clubs. Rich with lewis s own words, framed by bragg s richly atmospheric narrative, this is the last great untold rockandroll story, come to life on the page.
An iconic rocker receives a warm, admiring biography from a pulitzer prizewinning journalist and author. Rick bragg and his editor fought over what the jerry lee lewis book was ultimately about. One is jerry lees love hate relationship with elvis. All over but the shoutin, avas man, the prince of frogtown, i am a soldier too. The words on the page perfectly match the music and the man roddy doyle author of paddy clarke ha ha ha no one in rock and roll has ever made music and lived life with the ferocity of jerry lee lewis, and no writer is better suited than rick bragg to tell lewis s story. From the beloved, bestselling author of all over but the shoutin, a delectable, rollicking food memoir.
His own story by bragg, rick abebooks passion for books. The greatest southern storyteller of our time, new york times bestselling author rick bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, jerry lee lewisand gets his own story, from the source, for the very first time. His own story is the killers life as he lived it, and as he shared it over two years with our greatest bard of southern life. Jerry lee lewis his own story came out to critical acclaim. His own story harper, which follows the singer from an upbringing steeped in religion to wild nights on the road with the first heroes of rock and roll to. A pulitzer prizewinning reporter formerly with the new york times, rick bragg hit the bestseller charts with his first book, all over but the shoutin, his account of breaking free from the poverty of his youth and finding success at the pinnacle of american journalism. Lewis bared his soul, and many details of his admittedly nonseminarian lifestyle, to rick bragg, a fellow southerner from possum trot, ala. Rick braggs writing is about the only thing i really liked in this book. His own story by rick bragg 512pp, canongate, telegraph offer price. Rock n rolls first wild man called the killer by his myriad fans liked a strong bass line and a rambunctious crowd, but he loved women. Rich fahle interviews author rick bragg about his biography, jerry lee lewis. Number one with a bullet as a boy jerry lee lewis would sneak into a segregated blues joint called will haneys big house and hide under tables. Jerry lee lewis his own story by rick bragg i have just finished reading this 500 page book by professor rick bragg.
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