Tribute To Jerry Lee Lewis By Rockabilly Linda Gail Lewis - Texas Theatre

Description

The show begins at 2:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale at www.thetexas.org or by calling (830) 372-6168 or (830) 401-1971.

Linda Gail Lewis is the younger sister of one Country and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Jerry Lee Lewis. After decades of lingering in his shadow, she finally achieved a measure of fame in 2000 with a critically acclaimed album of duets performed with Irish rocker Van Morrison. Her style, which has embraced hard-core honky-tonk music, 1950s rock 'n' roll, and touches of Memphis soul, has made her a favorite in Europe.
               
Like her brother Jerry Lee, Linda Gail Lewis soaked up the sounds of hillbilly music and rhythm and blues in the rural areas of Ferriday and Black River, Louisiana. Although the Lewis family was poor, they always had enough to eat because of father Elmo Lewis's skill at farming. When Jerry Lee began to score hits with "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire" in 1957, he singlehandedly lifted the family from dire poverty to a life of relative ease.
               
"Jerry shared everything he had with us," Linda Gail remarked in an interview. "He'd call my mama up and say, 'Mama, I want you and daddy and Frankie Jean and Linda Gail to have everything that I have.' And we did!.… I don't know how many people would say that. He meant it too." Linda Gail's chief inspiration was Jerry Lee, but later, as the era of rock 'n' roll came into play, she also tuned into the sounds of Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, and Lavern Baker. Like her famed elder brother, she was married many times, and her first marriages were at ages 14 and 15.

After moving to the Austin area, Linda Gail continues to work the road performing the hits of that she enjoyed as well as her brother’s most requested songs.