To understand why we are honoring Legend Jerry Lee Lewis, you first have to understand his remarkable life.

One of only 12 inducted into both the Rock-N-Roll and Country Music Halls of Fame, Jerry Lee Lewis' musical talents became apparent early on as he sang in Church on Sundays, drawing inspiration from radio shows such as the Grand Ole Opry. At age 10, Lewis’ father mortgaged the family farm to buy Jerry Lee his first piano and he eventually gave his first public performance at 14. The rest is history.

Lewis eventually ended up in Memphis, Tennessee where he worked for Sun Studios. In working on recording sessions with Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee jammed with Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. This session birthed the “Million Dollar Quartet” which spawned a Broadway musical and cemented Rock-N-Roll history!

In 1957, Lewis became a superstar with his unique piano-driven sound that bought him a spot on the pop, country, and R&B charts with his song “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” He had also developed his famous stage antic—standing up and kicking back on a piano stool. Lewis scored 23 Billboard Country Top 10 Singles, 17 Billboard Top 10 Country Albums, and entered the Billboard Country Charts almost 100 times during his career.

In 2018, just down the road from Memphis, Tennessee, Jerry Lee began calling Southaven, Mississippi “home.”

For over two years, the City of Southaven and its community have aimed to memorialize and thank a local and world-wide legend, also one of Southaven’s own, by memorializing Jerry Lee Lewis through a life-sized statue and scholarships to benefit youth interested in music education. In fact, when this project began Spring 2022, Jerry Lee and wife, Judith, had the honor of blessing and giving thanks for the memorial idea.

On Friday, September 20, 2024, the Jerry Lee Lewis memorial statue was unveiled to the public for the first time! It was a fun filled night of performances and honoring a legend’s musical lifetime. The life-size bronze statue will forever sit at Lucky Dog Music Hall & Bar, a new music venue located inside Southaven's bustling Silo Square.

Additional dollars raised will go towards an established Musical Education Scholarship at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi for aspiring musicians from DeSoto County looking to major in music and musical education majors at a Visible College in Memphis, TN. More details on the scholarship coming soon!