On October 28, 2022, Jerry Lee Lewis died aged 87. He was musician (piano), singer and songwriter, nicknamed “the Killer”, He was a pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, described as “Rock and roll’s first great wild man and one of the most influential pianists of the 20th century. Lewis won four “Grammy Awards”, including a “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award” and two “Grammy Hall of Fame Awards”. He was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, the “Rockabilly Hall of Fame”, “Memphis Music Hall of Fame” and “Country Music Hall of Fame”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked his box set “All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology”, at number 242 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, in 2004, the same magazine ranked him at number 24 of its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. A movie about his life, “Great Balls of Fire”, was released in 1989, starring Dennis Quaid. As leader, Lewis released 40 studio and 8 live albums.
Tag Archives: rockabilly
Thomas Allsup
On January 11, 2017, Thomas Douglas Allsup died aged 85. He was musician (guitar) and music producer, working in western swing, rock and roll, and rockabilly genres. He recorded, performed and produced with Buddy Holly, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Ritchie Valens, J.P. “the Big Bopper “Richardson, The Ventures, Ronnie Smith, Willie Nelson, Zager & Evans, Waylon Jennings, and Roy Orbison.
Link Wray
On November 5, 2005, Fred Lincoln “Link” Wray Jr. died aged 76. He was songwriter singer, and musician (guitar, steel guitar, bass guitar), known for his rock and roll, and rockabilly musical style. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number 45 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Wray released 23 albums as a leader.
Gene Vincent
On October 12, 1971, Vincent Eugene Craddock aka Gene Vincent died aged 35. Being singer and guitarist, he was one of the rockabilly and rock and roll pioneers. His 1956 song “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (together with his band Blue Caps) is considered to be one of the first rockabilly hits. Vincent was inducted both the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and the “Rockabilly Hall of Fame”.
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