Great Balls of Fire – Today In Southern History
28 March 1958
On this date in 1958…
During the opening night of a tour, Jerry Lee Lewis was enraged that he had to perform before Chuck Berry and not last. He torched his piano during his set-closing number, “Great Balls of Fire” and Lee reportedly told Chuck, “Let’s see you top that.”
Other Years:
1818 – Confederate General Wade Hampton, III was born in Charleston, South Carolina.
1834 – The U.S. Senate voted to censure President Andrew Jackson for the removal of federal deposits from the Bank of the United States.
1862 – Battle of Glorieta Pass, New Mexico.
1953 – “World’s Greatest Athlete” and Oklahoma native, Jim Thorpe died in Lomita, California.
1990 – Jesse Owens received the Congressional Gold Medal from U.S. President George H.W. Bush.
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