Rick Bragg on Jerry Lee Lewis

| November 3, 2014 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/11/JLL_bookcover.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:449;s:4:"file";s:25:"2014/11/JLL_bookcover.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"JLL_bookcover-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"JLL_bookcover-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"JLL_bookcover-208x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:208;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"JLL_bookcover-177x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:177;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"JLL_bookcover-300x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"JLL_bookcover-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:157518;s:14:"optimized_size";i:77155;s:7:"percent";d:51.020000000000003;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/JLL_bookcover.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:74106;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20475;s:7:"percent";d:72.370000000000005;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/JLL_bookcover-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3602;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3211;s:7:"percent";d:10.859999999999999;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/JLL_bookcover-300x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25731;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17165;s:7:"percent";d:33.289999999999999;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/JLL_bookcover-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:22943;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15114;s:7:"percent";d:34.119999999999997;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/JLL_bookcover-208x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:17064;s:14:"optimized_size";i:11576;s:7:"percent";d:32.159999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/JLL_bookcover-177x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14072;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9614;s:7:"percent";d:31.68;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1635881371 
1414972800

Jerry Lee Lewis is as famous for his colorful personal life as he is for his music. An early pioneer of rock and roll, Lewis soared to fame in the late ’50s with hits such as Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On only to be brought down by scandal when he married his 13-year old cousin. Author Rick Bragg spent two summers listening to Lewis recount the triumphs and tragedies of his life and the result is Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story. Bragg tells Greg Bass about Lewis’ first encounter with a piano in Ferriday, Louisiana…

Click here to listen to an extended interview.

Ric Bragg reading a passage on when Jerry Lee Lewis met Elvis Presely

The Alabama Booksmith, presents An Evening with Rick Bragg tonight at 6 o’clock. A portion of the proceeds will benefit WBHM.

 

Satellite images show the devastation from Spain’s deadly floods

The images show a devastating transformation of eastern Spain, where at least 205 people have been killed by flash floods.

U.K. Conservatives pick Kemi Badenoch as their party’s new leader

The party elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader as it tries to rebound from a crushing defeat that ended 14 years in power. She is the first Black woman to lead a major British political party.

Chef Edward Lee reflects on ‘Culinary Class Wars’, identity and his next chapter

After three decades in Southern cuisine, Lee's next culinary chapter explores Korean American cooking, moving beyond traditional recipes and fusion concepts.

Iran’s supreme leader threatens Israel, U.S. with ‘crushing response’ to Israeli attack

Iran's supreme leader threatened Israel and the U.S. with “a crushing response” over attacks on Iran and its allies. The Pentagon said Friday that more U.S. forces would be coming to the region.

Sikhs march across California urging protections against threats from India on U.S. soil

Sikh activists marched 350 miles across California in October to mark the 40th anniversary of a massacre and call for protections from what they say is a growing threat from the Indian government.

At a historic cemetery in the South, a Dia de los Muertos festival takes root

At a historic Southern cemetery, a Mexican tradition has found a home.

More Arts and Culture Coverage