American singer Jerry Lee Lewis has died at the age of 87, his publicist has confirmed, following recent inaccurate reports of his death.
Publicist Zach Farnum said in a statement: ‘Lewis, perhaps the last true, great icon of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, whose marriage of blues, gospel, country, honky-tonk and raw, pounding stage performances so threatened a young Elvis Presley that it made him cry, has died.’
Farnum added: ‘He was there at the beginning, with Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, and the rest, and watched them fade away one by one till it was him alone to bear witness, and sing of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.’
Lewis shot to fame in the 1950s with his smash hit Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On, followed by the iconic Great Balls of Fire and Breathless.
He has been long revered as an outstanding live performer, previously dabbling in several genres, including gospel and country.