16. A Bad Marriage
For a while in the 1950s, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and musician Jerry Lee Lewis (1935 – ) was bigger than Elvis. An early pioneer of rockabilly – a blend of “hillbilly music” as country was called then, and rhythm and blues, which led to “classic” rock and roll – Lewis was a superstar. A Louisianan, Lewis began recording in Memphis in 1956, and the following year he shot to global fame with his hit There’s a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On. He followed it soon after with his signature song, the insta-classic Great Balls of Fire, which made it to Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Songs.
By 1957, Jerry had already gone through two marriages, including a technically bigamous one to his second wife, 23 days before the divorce from his first wife had been finalized. He divorced his second wife to wed for a third time, after falling head over heels in love with Myra Gale Brown. It would destroy his public image and career: she was his cousin – once removed, but still – and thirteen years old. Myra still believed in Santa Claus when Lewis married her.