The self-proclaimed “killer”, the wildest of the 'wild men' of rock 'n' roll, was born on 29^th September 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana. His parents were poor and listened to swing and Al Jolson records. As a teenager he listened to both the country style music and the more rocking music of local black clubs, along with the gospel sounds from the local Assembly of God church. He first played his aunt's piano at the age of eight and made his public debut in 1949 as a fourteen year old. At fifteen years old he study ministry at a bible school in Waxahachie, Texas, but was soon expelled.

A successful audition for Sun Records in 1956 resulted in the release of his debut single, a cover of a previous country hit called Crazy Arms. The song did well regionally, but its follow-up in 1957, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, initially  sold one hundred thousand copies in the South and then sold over six million copies nationally after Lewis' appearance on the Steve Allen's television show. His next release, Great Balls Of Fire, sold more than five million copies, both songs becoming massive US hits on both the pop an R&B charts. The latter song reached number one in the UK.

Not satisfied, he went on to cut such classics as Breathless, Wild One, Down The Line and High Heel Sneakers. His song, High School Confidential, was the title and theme song for a movie in which he also appeared. Lewis' high school nickname was the "Killer", and it stuck with him as he established a reputation as a tough, rowdy performer, with a flamboyant piano style and bench-topping acrobatics. Lewis' career was brought to a grinding halt in December 1957 when he married for the third time, to his thirteen year old cousin, Myra.

America was scandalized, but Jerry Lee Lewis didn't particularly care. He turned to country music, and in 1968, after several lean years, he had his first of many Top Ten country hits. In the mid-Seventies he moved into the upper echelon of country artists, while working as a rock revivalist in the many nostalgia shows. Lewis' personal life has been marked by tragedy and controversy. Two of his sons were killed in car related accidents, his other son drowned, his estranged fourth wife drowned in a pool under mysterious circumstances shortly before their divorce settlement and his fifth wife was found dead in their home.

July 1989 saw the US release of a movie based on the life story of Lewis, entitled Great Balls Of Fire. The movie took ten million dollars at the Box Office in its first seventeen days of release. Lewis has been plagued by serious health problems in recent years and he rarely performs. His almost insane piano pounding, shouted lyrics and manic stage show were something to behold, and he rivaled Elvis Presley as the greatest of the Sun Records rockabilly artists.

Jerry Lee Lewis was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of fame in 1986.