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Al's Morning Blog 10/31/22

There will be a raft of obit's, mostly pre written about Jerry Lee. Mine might be a little different. No one in Southest Texas is more of an authority than me. Thats a big statement but reckoning of "The Killer" in my estimation is one that started in Waxahachie long before I or most of you had ever heard of him. It's the same bible college my brother in law, Ken Simmons attended. My pastor Rick White also went there. Jerry didn't make it past the first few weeks and his lifestyle has been openly challenged. He's been good and bad, sometimes both at the same time. Yet, most folks appreciate what he did with music. Buddy Holly and others in the rock and roll hall of fame are there deservingly, but one thing is for sure. The music didn't die that February in 1959. It died today with the passing of the last of the final four. Elvis, Fat's Domino, Chuck Berry and Jerry. They were the leading entree's on the menu of true rock and roll. They understood it because, simply put, they created it. My first recollection was in the mid fifties when we were playing the state of Mississippi. The black shoe shine oldster told me if we wanted to hear a "hot piano" player, we should catch this white guy at the Wagon Wheel. It was down the road from the Eola hotel where we were staying in Natchez. As bad a piano player as I am, I do have enough sense to appreciate a good one, in this case, and unbelievable one. I didn't get to meet him then. It was 16 month's later. We worked out of Wichita Falls and happened to be back in town the night Jerry played the MB Corral, a country night club that booked the big acts. I went backstage between sets and mentioned the Wagon Wheel. He grinned and offered me a swig of some "Makers Mark". High octane bourbon. One of Jerry's favorites. Saw him in Dallas a year later and then in Beaumont, years later. I did the booking for the Continental club on Highway 90. (The old Woodmen of the World venue.) It was Sunday, with Jerry coming here from Panther Hall in Ft. Worth. That was a regular stop on his tours. My secretary at the radio station mentioned it was a shame that he was going to play a venue where the teenagers couldn't see him. When I called for final arrangements with his agent Killer happened to be in the room. I asked about the price of an early afternoon show and Jerry said: "hell, i'll give em an hour free". The only stipulation was we give some to charity. My old buddy, Steve-O, the night rider was with me and Jerry knocked everyone's socks off. I've emceed every show he's played in Beaumont, from City Auditorium (Julie Rogers) to the Palace, Civic Center and Nutty Jerry's to Rocky Octane's and the old Mecca in mid county. The last one he played here I missed because of illness and was told Jerry needed to hang it up. Kind of glad now, I missed it. Jerry always had the great musicians with him. The night he came to Rock's James Burton played guitar. James, of course was the main man for Elvis. MUsisicans respected him. Elton John once said Jerry had the greatest two hands in the business. He played by ear. No music sheets for Jerry. Yeah, he drank, he cussed, he did everything and anything your mom ever told you shoulld never be done. Listen to him sing Gospel if you ever get a chance. You'll hear the love for Jesus. At least I hear it. He's in my head as I write this. You want legend. Maybe you saw it. Maybe you heard it. If so, you won't forget it. 

R.I.P. Jerry. Chuck Berry had words with Jerry before a sold out concert in St. Louis. Chuck insisted on closing the show in his home town which meant Jerry could not close as usual. When Lewis concluded, he whipped out a can of lighter fluid and sprayed the keys and struck a match. As he walked off the stage he looked at Berry and said: "close that". For all the goods and the bads if the music didn't die today, it shed a few tears and smiled at the same time. R.I.P. Jerry. (In the key of C).


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