Jack Hammer 2_thumb.jpg" align="left" width="235" />"Great Balls of Fire," the hit song popularly associated with Jerry Lee Lewis who recorded it on Sun Records in 1957, was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer (aka Earl Solomon Burroughs) who passed away in Oakland, California on Friday April 8, 2016 due to a heart failure.
Jack Hammer was born on September 16, 1925 in Grove Town, Georgia. He was a Renaissance man, Broadway performer, songwriter, actor, MC, singer, tap-dancer, comedian, musician, playwright, impressionist, and artist. Lewis' recording of "Great Balls of Fire," one of dozens of Hammer's compositions, sold one million copies in the first 10 days of release in the United States, capturing a Gold Record award from the Recording Industry Association of America, and becoming one of the best-selling singles in the U.S., as well as one of the world's best-selling singles of all time. The song was also featured in the 1957 Warner Brothers rock and roll movie "Jamboree" featuring Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Count Basie, and other stars of the era, and became the title of the 1989 Jerry Lee Lewis biopic, starring Dennis Quaid. It has been re- recorded by everyone from The Kingsmen to Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Dolly Parton, Tiny Tim, Mae West, and even Tom Cruise in the movie "Top Gun."For further information please contact the family at jackhammerlegacyfoundation@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/Jack-Hammer-1714306008841955/
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