Jerry Lee's little sister...
        Linda Gail  Lewis

        Photos courtesy Rockabilly Hall Of Fame
       
        This is the only record I know of with Jerry Lee and Linda Gail
        together.  I always liked it.  I still have a copy somewhere!  I was
        attracted to it at first because she had my middle name.  But the Lp
        was good too!  I remember once when Roy, Delores, his children,
        and I were traveling from Nashville to Shreveport; we had to stop
        in Memphis and try and find Jerry Lee.  Roy had  a royalty check
        for him from Mercury.  Unfortunately for me, we didn't find him,
        and I missed my chance of meeting "The Killer" up close and
        personal.  When I said to my brother, "tell me all about Jerry Lee
        Lewis."  "What's he like?"  Roy replied:  "To me, Jerry Lee's idea
        of complete luxury is sitting in front of a color T.V. with an
        un-ending supply of hot dogs!"
      Linda Gail Lewis and brother Jerry Lee grew up in Ferriday, Louisiana along with cousins
      Jimmy Swaggart (controversial, but world-renowned evangelist) and Mickey  Gilley.  Most
      of their colorful, but poverty stricken childhood was spent in their home town church built by members of the family. Their first musical church experiences were right there at "Ferriday
      First Assembly of God" where Jerry and Linda sang, moving toward what would be their life
      long career in music. I've been in the music business my whole life, " says Linda. "I went into
      Sun recording studio in Memphis with my brother for the first time when I was 12 years
      old and went out on the road with him when I was 14." The impressionable Linda Gail idolized her brother and he returned her love with brotherly concern.  "He protected me when we were
      out on the road. He wouldn't even let anyone cuss in front of me."

      Never having to solicit attention from the music industry, Linda's earlier years were 
      along side of Jerry. "I had record deals offered to me when I was young, but I was
      having the time of my life traveling with my brother so I really didn't care if I had a
      record deal or not. I dedicated my life to my brother. He showed me things on the
      piano, but I never learned it then because I just didn't see the sense in it. Where was I
      going to use that on the road with Jerry Lee Lewis? Nobody could play like him on a
      show like that. Believe me, you wouldn't want to play."

      Eventually, Jerry Lee and Linda Gail did in fact join forces in the early 70's creating a
      duet album entitled, "Together", which launched a top 10 hit with their Mercury/Smash
      single, "Don't Let Me Cross Over". From there she went on her own to pursue her own
      dreams and visions in an effort to step out of the shadow of her famed brother. "You
      know, having name recognition is a two sided-thing," she continues. "It helps you get in
      the door, but once you're in, you have to blow people's minds or else they will not like
      you. If I was Jerry Lee's sister, I better be damn good."

           
           
            Read more about Linda and Jerry in her new book.
             

               
               
               
               
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