Riffs, Roams and Raves uncovers the creative, noteworthy and accomplished in the Wimberley Valley and beyond with tips on who to hear, where to go and what to see from managing editor Teresa Kendrick.
This week and next, the entire R, R & R column is given over to a two-part story about Linda Gail Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis’ younger sister, and her husband, Eddie Braddock, a legendary name in the music industry for his role as a music producer for Chess and Stax records. The articles are written by Gary Zupancic, current KWVH radio host of “At the Hitchin’ Post” and former reporter for the Wimberley View.
Linda Gail Lewis is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She has recorded with Jerry Lee Lewis, Van Morrison, Robbie Fulks, Wanda Jackson, Melanie, Dale Watson, Mitch Ryder and Robert Gordon. She also has recorded with her two daughters, Mary Jean Ferguson and Annie Marie Lewis, in a group called the “Lewis 3.”
By the age of 15, Linda Gail was Jerry Lee’s opening act, in a gig lasting fifteen years. She took ten years off to raise her children, returned to the stage to open for Jerry Lee in 2008. He needed a warm up band as he had gotten older and couldn’t play as long as audiences expected. Watching the two siblings playing piano with their feet! Can you imagine?
The family’s musical gene is shared by Mickey Gilley and preacher Jimmy Swaggert, “In fact,” Linda Gail said, “Jimmy Swaggart is my double cousin. My Momma’s sister married my Daddy’s nephew.”
The family lived up in Ferriday, Louisiana, which she described as a *%@#-hole, until she turned twelve. That was the time that Jerry Lee started to hit it big time and life changed overnight. Soon, she said, they were living in a big brick house and mama ordered herself a new Cadillac, a Fleetwood, and life was good.
Jerry Lee doted on his baby sister and to this day she still adores him, “I’m his number one fan!”
After twelve, she grew up in Memphis and, of course, knew Elvis and his entourage, everyone at Sun Records, and other famous artists while growing up with Jerry Lee.
She continues to idolize her older brother evidenced by numerous pictures of him in their little apartment. At her performances, her fingers and foot playing on the keyboards reminds fans of Jerry Lee’s antics on stage.
Her recordings include an album of duets with Jerry Lee in 1970 and their hit single on the country charts called, “Don’t Let Me Cross Over.” She also performed on a duo album called Wild! Wild! Wild with Grammy- nominated Americana singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks. She’s the only artist that Van Morrison recorded a duets album with and she toured with him for one year. She sang with the performer Melanie, along with many other artists. She played numerous gigs in Europe: Sweden, Germany, Austria, Norway and Luxembourg. “Norway is my favorite country,” Eddie said, “and we’ve been going there for 17 years.” They both lived in Wales for four years.
One time, she recalled, “We were riding along in the car in Viennes, France, and Annie Marie Lewis, my daughter said, ‘Hey, Mama, look up at that billboard.’ I looked up and there was this big billboard with my face on it. That promoter was so nice to me.”
In July, she toured in France and Estonia. Her favorite concert of all time was in Estonia. “We were in this castle and the atmosphere was incredible. What made it that way were the people in the audience. That audience loved me. We had a love affair the moment I stepped on that stage to the moment I stepped off it.”
Before COVID-19, both Linda Gail and Eddie were doing well financially. Touring was fine in Europe and it looked like it would never end. “But,” Linda Gail said, “I’m not allowed to take those long tours anymore, like I loved, where I can play 25 gigs in three weeks.”
Another time she remembered, “I did this thing in Sweden where I played 72, twenty-minute shows. They were short shows. Yeah, 72 shows in five days. I had to get up at five o’clock in the morning and put my makeup on because the gigs started at seven.”
“I’d be singing ‘Great Balls of Fire’ and as soon as the word ‘fire’ would come out, they’d snatch that microphone away from me, load it up and go to the next gig. We’d have to run to get there, because they were all in these little towns.” Things were going great, and money was rolling in.
Then fate struck. Eddie learned he had cancer and he had the choice of immediately undergoing chemo or having surgery. Eddie chose surgery and a week later, his bladder was removed. Fortunately, the cancer had not spread to the rest of his body.
As Eddie recuperated, and COVID-19 seized the world, they found themselves with canceled tours all over Europe. Without income, they were forced to downsize.
“When the pandemic hit Europe and Dubai, we just didn’t have any money coming in,” Linda Gail said. “It was bad and I almost lost it. For three years I was two car payments behind on two cars.”
After downsizing and moving to Austin to live near daughter Annie and son-in-law Danny B. Harvey, a rockabilly musician, Hurricane Harvey struck. Rents doubled, making it impossible to live in Austin. An attorney friend offered the couple a small apartment in Woodcreek where they now reside.
Recently, Linda Gail performed at Gruene Hall and rocked the house. One of the songs she performed, “I Knew That You Were Leaving,” came to her in a dream in which she was missing her brother. She decided to get up and write the lyrics down.
Her newest album, “Rockabilly Queen,” lives up to its title with songs like “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” and a personal favorite of mine, “Don’t Give Me No Lip.” Daughter Annie and son-in-law Danny B. play in her band and on her new album, which was produced by Danny B. Bonus songs include ”See You Later Alligator,” with Bill Haley and the Comets, and “The Lion Sleeps Tonite,” with the Tokens. The album is available on Amazon for a good price.
As for Wimberley, Linda Gail said, “we like it here more than any place we’ve ever lived.”
Next week, read Gary Zupancic’s companion article about Eddie Braddock and his role shaping the music scene at Chess and Stax records.
