November 4, 1957…Dick Clark Debuts “Great Balls Of Fire”

On November 4, 2014 - TV History


November 4, 1957…Dick Clark Debuts “Great Balls Of Fire”

Just for fun, here’s a little piece of music and television history rolled into one. The song was recorded in Memphis at Sun Studios on October 8, 1957 and was the follow up to Jerry Lee’s first hit, “Whole Lotta Shakin”. This debut performance is on ‘The Dick Clark Saturday Beechnut Show’ on ABC from The Little Theater in New York. Notice the ultra quick “balls of fire” Lewis creates with magician’s flash paper while playing. -Bobby Ellerbee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lidFipyLG8k

Jerry Lee Lewis Great balls of Fire Rock video

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7 Comments

  1. Vernon Swygert November 4, 2014

    Last Man Standing was an awesome album….still rolling. Great share…

  2. Bobby Reyes November 4, 2014

    …damn ! .. I missed seeing that ! ..so, he still had it going ?

  3. Kent Ayers November 4, 2014

    I also loved how they hung a lavalier mic around his neck in the Dick Clark Show clip.

  4. Kent Ayers November 4, 2014

    I actually had the pleasure of seeing Jerry Lee Lewis in concert here in Indianapolis way back in the early 80’s. He actually played at the Marion County Fair. He was running late so the concert didn’t even start til around 11pm but it was sure worth it.

  5. Adrian M Woods November 4, 2014

    32 years later, I directed Jerry’s performance of the same song in Melbourne, Australia, primetime live on the Seven Network. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXOQA94xOHU

  6. Alan Rosenfeld November 4, 2014

    I remember seeing when it aired, I was 5. My mom used to let me watch Bandstand and this show, gave her an hour’s peace in the Nickleodeon-less days…

  7. James Stanley Barr November 4, 2014

    I watched him on Letterman the other night……Jerry Lee Lewis has still got it after all these years.