The Marriage That Wrecked a Rock Star
Singer-songwriter, pianist, and musician Jerry Lee Lewis (born 1935) was one of the early pioneers of rock and roll and rockabilly. The latter was a blend of country, or “hillbilly music” as it was called then, and rhythm and blues, which led to “classic” rock and roll. Born and raised in Louisiana, he began to record in Memphis in 1956, and a year later, 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. They included 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 he fell head over heels in love with Myra Gale Brown. She was his cousin – once removed, but still – and thirteen-years-old . She actually still believed in Santa Claus when Jerry Lee Lewis decided to tie the knot with her. As seen below, that marriage derailed his career.