Lewis’s latest album on fire
Rock ’n’ roll pioneer proves talent again
By Jess Novak, contributing writer
Posted on September 28, 2006

Jerry Lee Lewis has come a long way since his 1957 hit “Great Balls of Fire.” But while other 70-year-olds are contemplating assisted care, Lewis is still making hits with a few of the greatest musicians to ever live.

This rock ‘n’ roll pioneer and Hall of Famer has proven himself a still powerful force in the competitive pop culture scene with his latest album, Last Man Standing.

Lewis has always had a unique sound, mixing blues, gospel, country and rock, but this CD further proves his versatility. With solid country tunes like “Old Glory” with Toby Keith and “That Kind of Fool” with Keith Richards, mixed among pure rock ‘n’ roll hits like “Honky Tonk Woman” featuring Kid Rock and smooth blues with B.B. King in “Before the Night is Over,” Lewis seems to be the definition of the renaissance musician man.

Yet, among musicians like former Beatle Ringo Starr, The Stones’ Keith Richards and Mick Jagger along with classic artists like Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young, one might wonder how an aging artist can compete against such a backdrop of superstardom. Though it may seem impossible, Lewis not only handles the challenge, but also never steps out of the spotlight.

With his dynamic piano solos and periodic signature yips and yelps, Lewis emits an incredible energy that will have the listener imagining a live show complete with flaming piano like the cover of the album. It’s really a pretty fantastic image, considering Lewis had been successful in the business for decades before some of his present audiences were even born.

Yet, the energy, excitement and raw talent perfected through years of experience brings a sad thought to mind. Like the title of the album Last Man Standing insinuates, Lewis is one of the very last of his musical generation still standing. After watching fellow members of the Million Dollar Quartet, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, as well as good friend Ray Charles pass away, Lewis shows tremendous strength and love of his art in his most current work. Despite health issues and manager problems throughout his career, Lewis still holds a positive outlook on his life and accomplishments as he emphasizes in the last lyric of the final track with Kris Kristofferson, “The Pilgrim” — “From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse, the going up was worth the coming down.”