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Back in February 1986, I drove to Tumwater to watch Jerry Lee Lewis perform at a rodeo venue called The Trails.When his word got out, it all came back died friday 87 years old.
This is one of my most memorable celebrity interviews.
Jerry Lee Lewis turned to me: “Are you having a problem?”
Me: “Uh, no.”
Lewis: “I do. Haha.”
I went to see Jerry Lee with period photographer Alan Berner. We love collaborating on these kinds of stories; you know, just a little bit out there.
Lewis was booked by someone who was absolutely new to concert publicity, a local casual musician, and for some reason decided that his first foray in this sort of thing would be a rock legend. Back then, Jerry Lee charged him and his musicians $10,000 to $15,000 ($27,000 to $41,000 in today’s dollars) an hour; you provided the piano, drums, amplifiers, and lighting system.
The aspiring promoter used up all his savings and borrowed a few thousand dollars. The soundstage was built on a flatbed truck, which was placed directly on the dirt.
Promoter Jim Manning told me he didn’t mind $12.50 a ticket, and with only 2,000 tickets sold, he ate about $6,000.
“I’m 42. I’ve always loved his music. I remember the first time I saw that movie in 1958,”high school secret,’ Jerry Lee plays the piano in the back of the truck. It totally knocked me out. “
The promoter arranged for a handful of media types to be present to book a meeting with his star.
I do remember thinking that Jerry Lee looked like, you know, like he’d been drinking: that direct look, with that foreboding thought that you can get after a couple of times.
I brought my tape recorder and Jerry Lee didn’t seem to like that.he took and spent have time to take a look.
I thought he was going to beat me up.
Then Jerry Lee chatted for a while, commenting, “The only record I’ve ever listened to is mine. If I hear something better, I’ll listen to it.”
Anyway. . . he gave the crowd a show. The audience screamed, whistled, and yelled.
Original February 28, 1986, Story here.
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