Jerry Lee Lewis Mississippi Home May Soon Be For Sale

Rock N Roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis’ 30 Acre Ranch May Be Up for Sale

The Mississippi home of entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis may soon be up for sale. The Jerry Lee Lewis Ranch is located at 1595 Malone Road in Nesbit, Mississippi, just south of Memphis, Tennessee. Lewis passed away Oct. 28 at the age of 87. “The Jerry Lee Lewis Ranch consists of more than 30 acres, with a stocked lake, two ponds, outbuildings, self-contained apartment, swimming pool, and the home of the late Jerry Lee Lewis.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a property with such provenance and possibilities.” according to this website: https://thejerryleelewisranch.com/?fbclid=IwAR0O73t0GvUvFO6MGgOYeRvpX71Vne7guefomRCQkw_zGdQRo2yaqiqiRS8

There has always been drama unfolding around the Rock-n-Roll legend, and even after he has passed away, the drama continues.

He lived in this home since the 70’s; his son Jerry Lee Lewis lll (Lee) grew up in this home. He lived here with sixth wife Kerrie McCarver, Lee’s mother. His daughter Phoebe Lewis lived with him at the ranch for a while before he married his 7th wife Judith Brown whom he was married to until his death. Phoebe is the daughter of Myra Lewis Williams , who was his third wife and his 13-year-old cousin at the time they got married. The controversey changed the trajectory of his career.

A link to my photo gallery of Jerry Lee Lewis through the years here below including him at the ranch with his family: https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+lll

Here are some of the stories written about how this is unfolding.

https://desotocountynews.com/desoto-county-news/the-lewis-ranch-up-for-sale/

https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/jerry-lee-lewiss-landmark-ranch-being-sold-amid-estate-dispute/

https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/01/05/music-legend-jerry-lee-lewis-nesbit-ranch-sale/

Jerry Lee Lewis~The Last of the Million Dollar Quartet, Is Dead at 87~

© Copyright- No photos for reproduction without written permission.

One of the highlights of my photojournalism career has been covering Jerry Lee Lewis. Always a thrill, always unpredictable and always interesting. Jerry Lee made the rules and Jerry Lee always only did what he wanted to, when he wanted and for whom he wanted to.

Lewis was controversial and quirky. It took patience, dedication and perseverance to do the kind of documentary photography I wanted to do on him.

I was not even alive during his heyday. Most of my coverage of him was in the second half of his life. But the idea that I was documenting history was still omnipresent.

At times, Jerry Lee had a difficult life. He dealt with a lot of personal tragedy, he had a wild reputation, and had to overcome many personal problems.

As for my experience, he was always a gentleman, on occasion a flirt. He was often anxious to go watch his favorite TV show, Gunsmoke. Judge him as you like, Jerry Lee Lewis had a deep faith in God. He was raised with his double cousin televangelist Jimmy Lee Swaggart.

As a photojournalist, you get a front-row seat to life. I always prefer to be a fly on the wall. My style is real and raw, authentic and as spontaneous as possible.

Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the Million Dollar Quartet and the last of those men living. He was a contemporary of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins. He came up under Sun Records and Sam Phillips (he produced Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Howlin' Wolf and more) .

Where ever you go, all over the world, you can hear their music playing. They are still ever-present and relevant all these years later.

What struck me most about Jerry Lee is how much he loved to play piano. He was passionate about playing, always. He never seemed to tire of it. He’d even practice in his hotel room before a show.

He loved his fans and often invited them into his dressing room after the show.

His buddy, newsman Jim Kingsley, one of the original “Memphis Mafia”, would bring me down to the ranch and tell Jerry Lee to let me take photos of him. Jim was someone who could get Jerry Lee to do whatever he asked.

I was with Jerry Lee when he was a guest on Donald Trump’s yacht. I watched the IRS carry Jerry Lee’s piano out the door of his Mississippi ranch for back taxes. I was there with him and Dennis Quaid at parties around the filming of Great Balls of Fire. I witnessed him signing his name to open a name-sake club on Beale Street. I watched him perform at The New Daisy with Dr. Nick ( best known as Elvis Presley's personal physician) standing in the wings. I was there when he and his seventh wife Judith renewed their vows. I was at the garage sale where they were selling his Rolls Royce, some of his record collection and his cowboy boots. I was at many of his birthday parties, concerts, and even a recording session.

At home, he would often retreat to his bedroom which had a security guard door and bars on the windows.

My photos of him ran in newspapers and magazines all over the world.

He put a little extra sparkle in my life. He was living history. He was one of the people who put Memphis and Memphis music on the map.

He was an original, and a living legend.

He will be missed.

Found on a recent trip to Amsterdam

Hundreds of fans lined up early outside the Hernando Funeral Home to pay their respects to The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis. Pictured are Band members Kenny Lovelace, J.M. Van Eaton, Sun Records Jerry Phillips, his children Jerry Lee Lewis the third and Lori Lewis Lancaster and family friend Kelly Chelette.

Nice Obit by Reuters who also used a couple of photos of mine from his recent anniversary party: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/rock-n-roll-pioneer-jerry-lee-lewis-has-died-age-87-2022-10-28/

The Memphis Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/10/28/jerry-lee-lewis-dead-rock-n-roll-singer-country-music/3069727002/

Interesting story in the Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-29/jerry-lee-lewis-myra-brown-williams-marriage-13-cousin

Rolling Stone ““Look, we’ve only got one life to live. We don’t have the promise of the next breath. I know what I am. I’m a rompin, stompin, piano-playin’ sonofabitch. A mean sonofabitch. But a great sonofabitch. A good person. Never hurt nobody unless they got in my way. I got a mean streak.… I gotta lay it open sometimes.”: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/jerry-lee-lewis-great-balls-of-fire-whole-lot-of-shakin-goin-on-myra-gale-brown-1234621001/

Desoto Times had an interesting interview with Myra Brown- http://m.desototimes.com/news/jerry-lee-lewis-was-canceled-after-marrying-13-year-old-cousin/article_28404220-5bb3-11ed-880a-33f0827e46a5.html

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO OTHER PREVIOUS WORK

https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+Wives

https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+lll

https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2018/1/2/jerry-lee-lewis-brings-in-new-year-2017-2018

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-jerry-lee-lewis-idUSKBN2B304O

VIDEOS-

https://youtu.be/DYqc7x2CTJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9spbbONets&t=29s

https://youtu.be/ZWoSdwuenqU

https://youtu.be/2AXRYbb3Ye0

Jerry Lee Lewis Through The Later Years

As a photojournalist in Memphis, I have covered Jerry Lee Lewis many times over the years.  I moved to Memphis in the late 80's and I have always enjoyed watching Jerry Lee Lewis perform. I consider myself a fan as well.

I was originally introduced to him by my fellow coworker Jim Kingsley, who has since passed away. Jim who was a stereotypical newsman, was also in the inner circle of Elvis Presley. Jerry was married to his sixth wife Kerry Lynn McCarver at the time. I remember Lee (Jerry Lee Lewis lll) as a toddler.

Lewis is passionate about his music and loyal to his fans.

I have photographed him in clubs, festivals, on Donald Trumps yacht and have been lucky enough to visit his ranch many times. I watched him get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and I watched the IRS remove his piano from his home when he owed back taxes.

Jerry Lee has lived a turbulent life and he has a wild reputation. While I admit he is a bit of a flirt, I can say my personal experience with him has been that he has always been a kind man and a gentleman, each and every time I have interacted with him. It has always been my pleasure to photograph him.

I recently watched him bring in the new year once again at age 82, at his namesake club, Jerry Lee Lewis Cafe and Honky Tonk on Beale Street in Memphis. I realized what an honor it has been to cover him for 30 years. I still get a kick out of watching him and he still gets a kick out of playing for his fans who come from all over the world to see him. You can see in the video that he stills smiles at the end of Great Balls of Fire, his signature song that he must have sung thousands of times since it was a hit in the 50's.

I have decided to share a glimpse of my photo collection in this photo gallery (above) and share a current video in this blog space below.

©Karen Pulfer Focht- Photojournalist