Jerry Lee Lewis
Sarah Hyden, 7
1. How did this musical artist or group change Rock and Roll/Rhythm and Blues forever?
Lewis is remembered for a large number of great hits that topped charts during the 60s. He was known as one of the most wild and crazy performers of his time. He changed the way fans reacted to energetic live shows.
2. What components of this group or artist made them so appealing in the 1950s and 1960s? (What drew people to them?)
His new sound that was emerging at the time of other great new rock n roll styles made Lewis popular.
3. Summarize The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll/Rhythm and Blues (Where and how did it start?)
When Bill Haley and his Comets released the song "Rock Around the Clock" the genre of rock and roll was exposed to the public, and this new sound took hold especially in the younger population. Other artists with similarly unfamiliar styles emerged soon after.
4. Compare your musical artist or group to an artist of a different genre.
Lionel Hampton, an RandB pioneer, and Lewis both were known for playing a variety of instruments in their music. They were both new faces in their genres as they were emerging. Lewis was known for his wild and energetic personality, which Hampton was not.
5. Today, what makes this musical artist or group still popular? What musical artist or groups from today are heavily influenced by these Rock 'n" Roll/Rhythm and Blues pioneers? How?
Lewis is still an active recorder and performer today, making him unique with his long and fruitful career. He became notorious through rumors and scandal which gained publicity. His music began as a new fresh sound and is still being experienced by people who loved the classics. Rock has spread and developed through out the years and has influenced many other genres.
Jerry Lee Lewis Great Balls of Fire - Rock