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
        )

)
1620671936 
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.

 

Gambling, ethics bills fall short as legislative session ends

Alabama lawmakers closed the books on this year’s regular legislative session Thursday. While Republican leaders passed many of their priority bills, perhaps the most talked about issue – gambling – died.

A look at what passed and failed in the 2024 legislative session

Alabama lawmakers have ended a 2024 legislative session that saw the Republican majority win approval for a number of their top priorities.

Q&A: Bobby Carter on leading Tiny Desk, his time at Jackson State, early career advice

Carter, a Jackson State alumnus, took over as the new series host and producer for NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concerts” series in April.

Alabama to begin working with a consulting company that’s under criminal investigation 

McKinsey & Company, an international consulting business, will help the state of Alabama develop a new strategic economic growth plan. The company is undertaking that project, while also dealing with a probe into whether it engaged in a criminal conspiracy.

‘Stupidity of politics’: Medicaid expansion effort dies in Mississippi

Mississippi lawmakers couldn’t come together to pass a bill that could have expanded Medicaid for thousands of residents.

This spiky-stemmed invasive grass is taking over Alabama

Classified as one of the worst weeds in the world, cogongrass aggressively crowds out native species and costs Alabama landowners tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue.

More Arts and Culture Coverage