For the past couple of
years or so, Linda Gail Lewis has been consolidating her reputation
on this side of the Atlantic. Already much respected with the
rockabilly fraternity, the Louisiana born artist has now broadened
her appeal in the general entertainment marketplace.
Linda Gail's new
found, ever increasing popularity has been based upon top grossing
nationwide tours with Shakin' Stevens and Van Morrison, a
best-selling duet album with Morrison, and an outrageous
autobiography that knocks the socks off other "kiss and
tell" diatribes.
But it's not only the
public that has responded enthusiastically to her music. The critics
have been singing her praises also, with acclaim coming from such
prestigious publications as Rolling Stone and Time Out, Q and Record
Collector.
Now she's set to win
even more friends and fans with a brand new album that continues to
fashion her own identity as a singer, songwriter and musician.
Appropriately titled "Out
Of The Shadows", it's another step away from the image
garnished by her elder brother, the notorious Jerry Lee Lewis.
Linda Gail Lewis
first started making waves in Britain when - following the launch of
her highly controversial and much discussed autobiography "The
Devil, Me And Jerry Lee" and the release of her self-titled
album on Sire - she toured the U.K. and Ireland in the perfect
rocking company of Shakin' Stevens. Along the way she made several
television appearances and, by the year's end, had struck up an
acquaintanceship with Van Morrison, leading on to the duet album
"You Win Again" and several months touring together.
But Linda Gail Lewis,
in common with her famous brother, has never shied away from the
headlines. It comes with the territory. Just as noted Nashville
journalist Robert K. Oermann had described her autobiography as
"breezy, bemused, irreverent and more than a little racy",
so such words could be similarly to the authoress herself.
Linda Gail and
brother Jerry Lee grew up in Ferriday, Louisiana along with cousins
Jimmy Swaggart (controversial, but world-renowned evangelist) and
Mickey Gilley (country singer/songwriter, who gained a worldwide
reputation via the movie "Urban Cowboy"). Most of their
colourful, but poverty stricken childhood was spent in their
hometown church built by members of the family. Their first musical
experiences were right there at "The Ferriday First Assembly of
God" where Jerry and Linda sang, moving toward what would be
their life long career in music.
"I've been in
the music business my whole life," says Linda. "I
went into Sun recording studio, in Memphis, with my brother for the
first time when I was 12 years old and went out on the road with him
when I was 14." The impressionable Linda Gail idolized her
brother and he returned her love with big brotherly concern. "He
protected me when we were out on the road. He wouldn't even let
anyone cuss in front of me."
Her internationally
successful adult life is a far cry from what her rural tender years
provided. During her school years, Linda Gail was sort of a loner,
only winning the superficial affection of her peers by way of the
money that Jerry always made sure that she had. "During
recess I was the only kid who had money to buy refreshments, so it
was the only time kids liked to hang around me." Throughout
many years of social academic isolation, Linda Gail recalls only
being happy when she was with her family. "I didn't have any
friends in school. People would whisper things about me when I would
walk down the halls as a teen. I remember feeling like I was ugly or
that there was something wrong with me. It gave me a complex because
I had always been different. After a while it got to the point where
I just didn't care anymore. If they laughed, I laughed with
them."
Never having to
solicit attention from the music industry, Linda's earlier years
were spent alongside Jerry Lee. "I had record deals offered
to me when I was young, but I was having the time of my life
traveling with my brother so I really didn't care if I had a record
deal or not. I dedicated my life to my brother. He showed me things
on the piano, but I never learned it then because I just didn't see
the sense in it. Where was I going to use that on the road with
Jerry Lee Lewis? Nobody could play like him on a show like that.
Believe me, you wouldn't want to play."
Eventually, Jerry Lee
and Linda Gail did join forces in the early 70's creating a duet
album entitled, "Together", which launched a top 10 hit
with their Mercury/smash single, Don't Let Me Cross Over,
followed a few months later by a revival of Roll Over Beethoven.
From there she went out on her own to pursue her own dreams and
visions in an effort to step out of the shadow of her famed brother.
At that time she scored a solo hit with Smile, Somebody Loves You.
She continues: "You know, having name recognition is a two
sided-thing, It helps you get in the door, but once you're in, you
have to blow people's minds or else they will not like you. If I was
Jerry Lee's sister, I better be damn good."
To say the least,
Linda Gail Lewis grew up in a very unique and unusual family.
Although most of her attention came from the rocketing stardom of
her brother and cousins, she herself claimed a very astonishing life
pattern. Quite obviously a woman who is not afraid of commitment,
Linda has been married 8 times and 3 of those marriages were before
she was 16 years old. Jerry is the second runner up with 7 marriages
under his belt. Through all the twists and turns in her admittedly
crazy life, she is a powerful musician and a wonderfully dedicated
mother to her four children.
Talking with Jerry
Lee Lewis fans she was often asked to write a book describing her
life as a sister and cousin to three enormously successful household
names. "I remember Bob Hope asking me, 'What was it like
growing up with Jerry Lee Lewis?'" These questions and many
others fed her need and desire to write the real version of her life
and basically tell the truth so that the misconceptions of her
family can be laid to rest. All were revealed in the best-selling
"The Devil, Me And Jerry Lee".
"I just
wanted people to know the truth and understand us. People don't know
the half of us. My family is unusual, but they are very good people
and my brother always made sure he took care of us." Linda
also states that even though she and her brother are a lot alike,
that they do see things differently especially when it comes to the
public's eye. "Jerry actually feels that he has a right to
privacy. He gives terrible interviews and most times won't even
talk. The way I see it is, once you are a public figure, you don't
have the right to privacy anymore. I mean, my brother, Little
Richard, Elvis, and Chuck Berry were all pioneers. There would be no
Metallica if it weren't for them. They introduced a whole new genre
of music and changed the world forever. 50's music is still alive
and well. Back then they were all looked upon as rebels."
These days, though,
Linda Gail Lewis' music is making its own impact. The little sister
has now stepped out of the shadows of her big brother and enjoys the
enthusiastic support of a public that yearns for more - and the
media always eager for a story linked with the Lewis name.
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