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ByBrian Boone

The emergence of rock 'n' roll in the mid-1950s was nothing less than a musical and cultural revolution.

Charismatic figures like Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis did away with politeness and decorum and let the wild, loud, and groovy new music, combining the best parts of R&B with country, run free as they shook around the stage, banged their instruments, and wailed about young love and lust.

Lewis was one of the biggest and most influential stars of '50s rock, churning out catchy, piano-driven, foundational favorites like "Great Balls of Fire," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," and "High School Confidential."

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As much as he helped lay down the charged-up sound, frenetic vibe, and undercurrent of rebellion that would all come to define rock 'n' roll, Lewis was also a pioneer behind building the perception of rock n' roll stars living wild, messy, and