Legendary Rock 'N' Roll Pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis to Write Autobiography for It Books

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Oct 12, 2010, 06:30 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today a deal to publish the memoir of rock 'n' roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis in 2012.

The book was acquired at auction by Cal Morgan, Vice President and Editorial Director of It Books. The agent was Erin Hosier of the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency.

One of the greatest showmen of all time, Jerry Lee Lewis is one of the founding pioneers of rock -- and his life story is at least as dramatic as his famously outrageous performances. From his childhood in Louisiana and his evangelical upbringing (Jimmy Lee Swaggart was his double first cousin) to his expulsion from Bible college in Texas, Lewis always knew he was going to be a star. In this long-awaited memoir, he will share a lifetime of untold stories, from his early years at Sun Records, where he lit up the music charts in 1957 with the back-to-back hits "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire"; to his longtime friendships with Sun stablemates Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and others; to the scandal that scuttled his first UK tour and jeopardized his career; to his triumphant comeback in the late 1960s, when he became the #1 Country Music star in America; to the cycles of excess and tragedy that dogged him for decades -- to his present-day comeback with a pair of hit CDs, Last Man Standing and Mean Old Man. The result will be a truly no-holds-barred memoir -- a rock epic if ever there was one.

"I have spent my life listening to those who know so little say so much about me and my life," said Lewis. "I am ready to say a whole lot about why I lived my life the way I did. People can read it, burn it, or never give it another thought. Either way the truth is about to be told, and I'm the only man still standing who can touch it."

"Mr. Lewis personifies the American story, in all its richness and contradiction," said Morgan. "He's a man of astonishing natural talent, profound belief, and indomitable spirit. What a thrill to have the chance to work with him on this unforgettable book."

Jerry Lee Lewis was the first person inducted in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, at its opening ceremony in 1986. His original recording of "Great Balls of Fire" was elected to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" received this honor in 1999. He has garnered countless honors, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Rolling Stone ranked him one of their Top 25 Greatest Artists of All Time, and he is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Hit Parade Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Lewis has had 14 #1 Hits, 47 Top 20 hits, and 10 Golden Records. In 2010, actor Levi Kreis won a Tony Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Lewis in the hit Broadway show Million Dollar Quartet. At the age of 75, Lewis is currently on tour in support of his latest CD, Mean Old Man, a deluxe 18-track collection of duets and collaborations with some of the greatest musicians in rock and country music.

About It Books:

Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, Mustaine by Dave Mustaine, My Appetite for Destruction by Steven Adler, Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald, Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by Cherie Currie, I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks, and Satiristas by Paul Provenza and Dan Dion. Upcoming publications include Blow by Blow by Detmar Blow with Tom Skyes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, How to Beat Up Anybody by Judah Friedlander, True Whit by Whitney Port, Everyone Loves You When You're Dead by Neil Strauss, and Al Jaffee's Mad Life by Mary Lou Weisman. It Books is an imprint HarperCollinsPublishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV).