TMZ has retracted a story and apologized after stating Rock ‘n’ roll star Jerry Lee Lewis died on Wednesday. The story started a wave of mourning before it was retracted by TMZ, saying it got a bogus tip.
The 87-year-old artist created the rock tunes “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” is alive and well, his sister posted on Facebook.
“Please pray for my darling brother. He’s going through a hard time and needs our prayers and happy thoughts right now,” his sister, Linda Gail Lewis, said on Facebook on Tuesday. Thank you a lot.”
The incorrect death announcement comes just 10 days after Lewis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His sister said he could not attend the Nashville ceremony because he suffered from the Flu.
Fellow country stars Hank Williams Jr., and Kris Kristofferson accepted the award in his place.
Fans paid tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis after learning of his death.
“Rest in Peace, Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the founding fathers of rock and roll.” Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe were all early pioneers of the genre.
“There was a time, though, when they walked the Earth like giants,” radio personality Lou Brutus tweeted.
Lewis, born in Louisiana in 1935, grew up listening to country music. He stated that he started playing the piano at 9.
He went on to earn four Grammys, including one for Lifetime Achievement and two for Hall of Fame.
In 1986, he was the first inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
His career, however, was nearly wrecked by a controversy involving his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra.
Source: NY Post, VOR News
