Rick Bragg on Jerry Lee Lewis

 ========= 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
        )

)
1670469213 
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.

 

Light from satellites will ruin majority of some space telescope images, study says

Astronomers have long been concerned about reflections from satellites showing up in images taken by telescopes and other scientific instruments.

Defense Department is reviewing boat strike video for possible release, Hegseth says

In a speech on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes, saying: "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests."

Bama, Miami in, Notre Dame out and Indiana No. 1 in College Football Playoff rankings

Nobody paying attention for the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana – yes, Indiana – leading the way into this year's College Football Playoff.

McLaren’s Lando Norris wins first F1 title at season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Red Bull driver and defending champion Max Verstappen won the race with Norris placing third, which allowed Norris to finish two points ahead of Verstappen in the season-long standings.

A ban on feeding pigeons ruffles lots of feathers in Mumbai

The pigeon population has exploded — a result of people feeding the birds. For some it's a holy duty and a way to connect to nature. Critics point to health risks tied to exposure to pigeon droppings.

UN humanitarian chief: world needs to ‘wake up’ and help stop violence in Sudan

The UN's top humanitarian and emergency relief official has told NPR that the lack of attention from world leaders to the war in Sudan is the "billion dollar question".

More Arts and Culture Coverage