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
        )

)
1640205362 
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.

 

Review by Senate Democrats finds more unreported luxury trips by Clarence Thomas

A report by Democrats on the Judiciary Committee found additional travel taken in 2021 by Thomas but not reported on his annual financial disclosure, including trips on private jets and a yacht trip.

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 20, including five children

Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 20 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said.

I discovered one way to fight loneliness: The Germans call it a Stammtisch

Modern life can be lonely. Some are looking to an old German tradition – of drinking and conversation – to deepen connection through regular meetups.

This Christmas I’ll be grieving. Here’s how I’ll be finding joy.

Since her husband's death, newscaster Windsor Johnston has been looking for ways to recapture joy and continue her healing journey — one that's taken her to a place she'd never expected.

College students get emotional about climate change. Some are finding help in class

A recent survey finds that more than half of young people aged 16-25 are highly worried about climate change. Some universities are now trying to help them navigate those emotions in class.

On tap for the holidays: A blend of multicultural drink traditions and fond memories

For this year's All Things Considered holiday cocktail interview, we visited Providencia in Washington, D.C., a bar that brings its owners' personal stories to life.

More Arts and Culture Coverage