Friday, October 28, 2022

Jerry Lee Lewis dead at 87

Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock’n’roll pioneer who became one of the most infamous figures in popular music, has died aged 87, his publicist has said.

He died of natural causes at his home in DeSoto County, Mississippi. “Judith, his seventh wife, was by his side when he passed away at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis,” a statement said. “He told her, in his final days, that he welcomed the hereafter, and that he was not afraid.”

Lewis’s energetic performances on songs including Great Balls of Fire helped install rock’n’roll as the dominant American pop music of the 1950s. He was born in Louisiana in 1935, the son of a poor farming family who mortgaged their home to buy Lewis his first piano. While learning the instrument and studying at an evangelical school, he was kicked out for performing a boogie-woogie version of My God is Real that was deemed irreverent.

Jerry Lee Lewis had no direct impact on me. Before my time and not someone I sought out after the fact. The most I know of him is from the movie GREAT BALLS OF FIRE starring Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder. AP notes:

Of all the rock rebels to emerge in the 1950s, few captured the new genre’s attraction and danger as unforgettably as the Louisiana-born piano player who called himself “The Killer.”

Tender ballads were best left to the old folks. Lewis was all about lust and gratification, with his leering tenor and demanding asides, violent tempos and brash glissandi, cocky sneer and crazy blond hair. He was a one-man stampede who made the fans scream and the keyboards swear, his live act so combustible that during a 1957 performance of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” on “The Steve Allen Show,” chairs were thrown at him like buckets of water on an inferno.

VARIETY adds:

Lewis — an inaugural inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, a 2005 recipient of a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award and, at the age of 86, a 2022 inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame — was a powerhouse keyboardist, mercurial vocalist and rampaging, unpredictable showman who could master virtually any song, be it rock ‘n’ roll, country, R&B, gospel or pop.

Lewis ultimately transcended category. With typical arrogance, he would frequently declare that there were only four real stylists in American music: Al Jolson, Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams and, of course, Jerry Lee Lewis.

The late journalist Nick Tosches, Lewis’ great Boswell, captured some of his titanic dimensions in his book “Country,” published in 1977 during his country resurgence: “Believe it: Jerry Lee Lewis is a creature of mythic essence….He was — and in a way still is — the heart of redneck rock ’n’ roll, and one of the greatest country singers who ever lived.

“He is the last American wild man.”

In 1958, at the age of 22, after he attained national success with his pounding rockabilly singles “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” his career hit the wall with the scandalous revelation of his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin. It took him a decade to regain his commercial footing with a series of powerful honky-tonk ballads.

THE NEW YORK POST picks up on that last aspect:

But it was then-22-year-old Lewis’ third marriage to Myra Gale Brown — his first cousin once removed — when she was just 13 that truly rocked his career. The ensuing scandal led to boycotts of his music, blacklisting at venues and appearance fees that plummeted from $10,000 a night to $250.

Goodness gracious, indeed.

The “Great Balls of Fire” singer — known for his boogie-woogie piano playing — married Brown on Dec. 12, 1957. At the time, his young bride, who was 9 years his junior, still believed in Santa Claus. And Lewis even moved in with his wife’s parents after their wedding.

When the newlyweds went to England on Lewis’ first European tour, he lied about his new wife’s age, telling the British press that she was 15. But when the truth was discovered, he was labeled a “cradle robber” and “baby snatcher” by the UK media, with one paper suggesting that Lewis be deported.

The scandal followed Lewis back to the US. Meanwhile, it turned out that his second marriage to Jane Mitchum had not yet been finalized before he wed Brown, so the couple got rehitched in another ceremony on June 4, 1958. And Lewis even had an open letter printed in Billboard that he hoped would validate their relationship.

He was a pioneer -- along with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, etc. And love Little Richard, Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, know their songs, appreciate their greatness. I don't know why Jerry Lewis never spoke to me.

Maybe because he was a cruel person? Like when he met Janis Joplin and took pleasure in making her cry? Or when he got arrested in 1976 for trying to kill Elvis?

Not a fan but he was a legend and a pioneer.

Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot;''

Friday, October 28, 2022. Iraq forms a government.

Big news out of Iraq unless you're BLOOMBERG NEWS. If you're BLOOMBERG, you run with "Iraq Appoints New Oil Minister After Yearlong Political Impasse." It certainly shows you where there priorities are.

Mohammed Shia al Sudani is prime minister of Iraq. Born in 1970, the 52-year-old is the youngest person to hold the office created after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The median age in Iraq is 21. REUTERS reminds that Mohammed "previously served as Iraq’s human rights minister as well as minister of labor and social affairs, will head the new government." Sinan Mahmoud (THE NATIONAL) explains:

Descended from a well-known tribe in the southern province of Maysan, Mr Al Sudani, 52, started his political career after 2003 as a member of the Shiite Dawa Party.

From 2004 to 2009, he served as member of the provincial council in his home town and as provincial governor for a year.

He ran for election with the State of Law Coalition led by former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki and has won three terms in parliament since 2014.

Among other posts, he served as minister of human rights from 2010 to 2014 and minister of labour and social affairs from 2014 to 2018.

DW notes:

Al-Sudani is taking over from Mustafa al-Kadhimi who was serving as an interim prime minister after widespread anti-government protests shook the country and triggered early elections.

The political deadlock since then has done little to quell public anger over what many see as widespread and rampant corruption.

"The epidemic of corruption that has affected all aspects of life is more deadly than the corona pandemic and has been the cause of many economic problems, weakening the state's authority, increasing poverty, unemployment, and poor public services," al-Sudani said in parliament.

Since Nouri al-Maliki, every prime minister has promised to fight corruption and every prime minister has left office without making any impact on that front.

The US State Dept issued the following:

Formation of Iraqi Government

Press Statement

Ned Price, Department Spokesperson

October 27, 2022

The United States congratulates Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on forming a new Iraqi government. We look forward to working with him and his government on the range of our shared interests, from improving services for the Iraqi people to ensuring a safe, stable, and sovereign Iraq as outlined in our Strategic Framework Agreement.

The Iraqi people deserve economic opportunity, an end to corruption, and improved public services. The United States welcomes Prime Minister al-Sudani’s commitment to bring weapons under the control of official and legitimate state institutions. We share the Iraqi government’s interest in preserving stability and security.

The United States stands ready to work with the Iraqi government and people to confront Iraq’s challenges together, from improving respect for human rights to addressing climate change and improving economic opportunities for a growing population. Iraq has a partner in the United States as it moves forward with reforms.

UNAMI issued the following:

Baghdad, 27 October 2022 - The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) welcomes the confirmation of Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani’s government by the Council of Representatives. The swift completion of his cabinet is now an essential next step.

The new government faces many serious challenges that require decisive action. These will include addressing Iraq’s systematic corruption; implementing desperately needed reforms and delivering adequate services to all citizens; diversifying the economy; encouraging the meaningful participation of women and youth; tackling the effects of climate change; ending impunity and making perpetrators accountable; and reining in non-state armed actors while asserting the State’s authority.

A strong resolve, across the spectrum, to provide concrete solutions will prove vital. The United Nations reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting the government and people of Iraq.

Along with his age, Mohammed is also significant in another way. He was named prime minister-designate October 15th. Yesterday, he became prime minister by getting his Cabinet of 21 ministers approved by Parliament (two spots remain vacant). That's 12 days after being named the designate. The Constitution gives the designate 30 days. Mohammed has set a new record for fastest formation. 21 is what most outlets are saying. Most. KURDISTAN 24 reports:

His cabinet consists of 22 ministers, mainly representing the Administering the State Coalition's parties that formed the government.

There are currently two Kurdish ministers in the cabinet. Fuad Hussein, representing the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) member, was elected as Iraq's foreign minister for the second time.

Khalid Shwani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) became Iraq's justice minister.

Al-Sudani's cabinet has three female ministers, Finance Minister Taif Sami, Minister of Migration and Displacement Evan Jabro, and Hyam Al Yassri of the telecommunication ministry of communications.

AL-MONITOR lists the following Cabinet heads:

Health: Salih Mahdi
Finance: Taif Sami
Interior: Abdul Amir Al-Shimmery
Water Resources: Aoun Diab
Electricity: Ziad Ali Fadhil Sudani
Oil: Hayyan Abdul Ghani
Youth and Sports: Ahmad Al-Mubarqa’
Agriculture: Abbas Jabr
Transport: Razzaq Muhaibis
Labor and Social Affairs: Ahmad Al-Asadi
Communications: Hoyam Abboud
Higher Education: Na’im Al-Abboudi
Planning: Muhammad Tamim
Culture and Antiquities: Ahmad Fakkak Ahmad
Defense: Thabit Muhammad
Education: Ibrahim Namis
Industry: Khalid Battal
Trade: Athir Daowd Salman
Justice: Khalid Shawani
Foreign Affairs: Fuad Hussein
Immigration: Ivan Faiq

The most recognizable name on the list to the west may be Fuad Hussein.

He will continue as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a post he assumed in 2020, and he was previously the Minister of Finance. A Kurd, he is a member of the KDP. In 2018, the KDP nominated him for President of Iraq (the post went to the PUK's Barham Saleh).

RUDAW reports, "The cabinet consists of 23 ministers but only 21 were approved as Sudani did not present any names for environment and construction ministries. All members of the cabinet were later sworn in." Qassim Abdul-Zahra (AP) also goes with 21, "A majority of the 253 lawmakers present voted to appoint 21 ministers, with two posts -- the Construction and Housing Ministry and the Environment Ministry -- remaining undecided." TRT states, "Of the 21 ministries nominated, 12 posts go to Shia supported by the Coordination Framework, six to Sunni leaders, two to Kurds and one to a Christian woman — one of three females in the new government."

The formation of the government came one year and 17 days after the elections (October 10, 2021).

For months, cleric and cult leader Moqtada al-Sadr had attempted to form a government and repeatedly failed. He had been hailed by the western press as a "kingmaker." He'd never been it before and, turns out, he wasn't it this go round either. Will the western press be issuing corrections? Amending previously published news reports -- not opinion pieces, news reports? Of course, they won't.

Moqtada had one tantrum after another. He overplayed his hand when he stomped his feet and ordered members of his political bloc to immediately withdraw from Parliament. Fatty just knew that everyone would beg him to have his ministers return. Didn't happen. They resigned and his bluff was called. The second biggest vote getters replaced Moqtada's MPs. He's not represented in Parliament and, guess what, his people also hold no ministry.

From kingmaker to failed cult leader.

AL-MONITOR notes:

In his speech prior to the vote, Sudani described the economic and political priorities of his government.

“The world is witnessing tremendous political and economic changes and conflicts, which will add new challenges to our country,” Sudani said. “We will ... do our utmost to succeed in addressing these challenges."

Aveen Karim (RUDAW) offers:

Analysts say that despite breaking the deadlock, the new government is set to face a number of obstacles.

“The fulfilment of the enormous expectations outlined in the Ministerial Programme will be one of the primary obstacles this government will encounter,” Research Associate at Chatham House, Hayder al-Shakeri, told Rudaw English on Friday.

“For instance, fighting corruption throughout and organizing early elections one year later. This will not occur while attempting to maintain the satisfaction of the political elite who have empowered Sudani to become Prime Minister,” Shakeri argues.

Another obstacle may be protests. The October Revolution will be in the streets demanding accountability. As usual, Moqtada will try to piggy-back on to the movement. He'll have to struggle for that because they refused to back down last go round -- on his demands that males and females not be protesting at the same site, for example.

Winding down . . .

BROS is playing around the world and, in the US, you can also stream it -- rental or purchase. It's a comedy classic and the best film of 2022.

The following sites updated: