2.3 WORKSHEET 2

In this section, we will finish Worksheet 2, with a look at Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly.

JERRY LEE LEWIS

Back in the day, there was no one with a more outlandish reputation that Jerry Lee Lewis. The thing is, he really was a wild man. It was not a publicity act! I often tell my class, if you ever have driven down a state highway, and you see some speed limit signs with bullet holes in them, Jerry Lee Lewis did that! He really did drive around with a bottle of whiskey and a gun. His behavior was such that he was nicknamed "The Killer." Watch this video clip that describes his life:

JERRY LEE LEWIS = THE KILLER Links to an external site.

Here is a quick look at one of his wild performances:

JERRY LEE LEWIS - MOVIN' ON DOWN THE LINE" Links to an external site.

Interesting fact: Jerry Lee Lewis has 2 cousins, and all three of them are well known: evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, and country artist Mickey Gilley (who also had the world's biggest nightclub, in Houston, Texas)

We have already seen in previous videos, that Jerry Lee Lewis' career was ruined when it was discovered he was married to his 13 year old second cousin. He was on tour in England when the story broke among the press. The British press, who always liked a scandal, went crazy with it:

The story followed him back to the U.S., and his career went downhill fast. He later revived his career by having many hits on the country music charts.

Let's go to the music journal with "Whole Lotta Shakin'."

JOURNAL:

9. WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' - JERRY LEE LEWIS Links to an external site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXQLfrPEV4w&ab_channel=the45prof

Snapshots:

1. A few years ago, I met a fellow musician I had known about for years, but had finally connected. He told me this story. He had been playing in a club, and was sitting in the dressing room, and noticed that the door was full of small holes. The manager came in, and was asked about it. The manager replied, "Oh, Jerry Lee Lewis was here last night. He was practicing his knife throwing!"

2. In one concert, Jerry Lee is upset that Chuck Berry is finishing the show, and not him, so during his set, he lights the piano on fire!

3. I once talked to a Nashville session drummer, who went out on tour with him. He had to quit and go back home after a few weeks, because he could not handle Jerry Lee's crazy ways.

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Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly was from Lubbock, Texas:

In the entire history of rock music, there is no story more compelling and shrouded in mystery than the story of Buddy Holly. Each one of these R&R pioneers had their impact, and Buddy Holly's influence was huge. Paul McCartney produced a wonderful documentary on Buddy Holly, bought the rights to Holly's music, and celebrated his music every year. In fact, John and Paul's very first recording, before there was a Beatles, was a Buddy Holly song. Later, both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones covered Buddy Holly songs.

Here is a quick overview:

BUDDY HOLLY MINI-BIO Links to an external site.

Buddy Holly's band was called the Crickets. At a certain point Buddy Holly broke his band up, got married, and moved to New York. His aim was to focus on songwriting instead of performing. He received an offer to go on a "Winter Dance Party" tour, which meant easy money, so off he went.

Note the admission price: $1.25!

The tour was a disaster. There were no great touring buses like today. The weather was freezing, below zero, and the bus heater would often break. The drummer got frostbite, and had to be left at a hospital! Buddy Holly was sick of this "glamorous" tour, and on the next town, Clear Lake, Iowa, he chartered a plane to fly he and his band to the next venue, Moorhead, Minnesota.  His goal was to get there early enough to do his laundry and get some sleep. JP Richardson, known as the "Big Bopper," was suffering from the flu, so he swapped places with Waylon Jennings, who was playing bass in Holly's band. Richie Valens had been pestering guitarist Tommy Allsup for his seat. At the end of the night, the two flipped a coin, with Valens "winning." Soon after takeoff, late at night and in poor, wintry weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the plane, which subsequently crashed into a cornfield, killing all four on board. That day became known as "the day the music died."

Here is that story, told by his friend, Waylon Jennings (who later became a big country music star):

WAYLON JENNINGS TELLS BUDDY HOLLY STORY Links to an external site.

Here is the same story, told by guitarist Tommy Allsup:

TOMMY ALLSUP TELLS BUDDY HOLLY STORY Links to an external site.

Now let's enter our last music journal song.

Where did that song come from? I'm fascinated by how songs came about. There obviously was a movie theater in Lubbock, Texas, because Buddy Holly went there to watch a John Wayne western, called The Searchers. There was one line that stuck with Buddy, because he wrote a song around it. Here is that line:

JOHN WAYNE "THAT'LL BE THE DAY" Links to an external site.

Here is the song.

JOURNAL:

10. THAT'LL BE THE DAY Links to an external site.

Before we end, lets take a look at Richie Valens, who was also on that plane. Valens was the first Latino R&R star, whose career was under a year, yet we still play his songs today. I have played one of his hits, "La Bamba," many times.

RICHIE VALENS MINI-BIO Links to an external site.

There will a test soon on Worksheets 1 and 2 ONLY, so study both of them for the test, which will be on Thursday, September 10. 25 multiple choice questions.

Click here to see a celebrity wishing you well on that test! 

MICHAEL JACKSON WANTS YOU TO ACE THAT TEST. Links to an external site.

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EXPLORE MORE?

The complete, video biography of rock 'n' roll legend Buddy Holly, produced and hosted by Paul McCartney. This is the most definitive biography of Buddy Holly ever assembled, featuring interviews with members of The Crickets and many of Buddy Holly's family and friends who knew him best. Includes rare performances and Paul McCartney performs several of Buddy Holly's songs.

BUDDY HOLLY DOCUMENTARY / PAUL McCARTNEY PLAYLIST Links to an external site.