I have been telling this story since 1974. I have never..ever gone public with it. I have told many friends, and family and of course my husband but no one who could be warned. The place was in Atlanta.. A club. I looked it up years ago to see what happened to the nice, swanky club that hosted stars. I was 24 years old and went to this club with a co worker and her Aunt Wilma. The co worker’s name was Barbara. I am writing a book and this is a chapter in the book but will share it here.
The reason I am writing this here and now is because I have heard so many times today, “ Why did someone not speak up, file a police report, or something before now”? This was in reference to women assaulted by famous people and really afraid to say anything and the blame game of, “ Well I asked for it I guess”.
It was March, 1974. The Place: The Southernaire Club ..Atlanta, Ga. It may have been Roswell but not quite sure. I know for a fact that it was March and I still remember what I was wearing and even have a picture of the outfit.
This dress was in 1975 ..Red but higher cut.. never wore the low cut velvet dress again. The dress below.I was working for Philco Ford in Atlanta and was a newly divorcee. I was 24 years old and my co worker and her Aunt invited me to go hear Jerry Lee Lewis at the club. Barb was a big Jerry Lee fan, me, not so much. I was a songwriter though. I was not successful at it but I was a singer/songwriter. I was not trying to get discovered. I was not star struck and not even a fan but I was 24 and loved music and thought an evening out with friends would be fun.
Barb was a drinker and I knew I would probably have to drive home but I was just a sipper if that. I chose my cola straight most of the time. Once in awhile I had a smidge of bourbon but not often and not this night. The club was the one and only time I ever went to this really nice place for entertainment. The place would remind you of an old 30’s movie dinner theatre seen in movies. The place had tables and little candles or small lamps placed at each seating. It was not an open bar or arena that I noticed. it was a sit down venue. We secured a table almost right on stage with the artist. Barbara was a con of the biggest kind and somehow we were seated in a reserved area for friends and family. I can still see the lady who was with Jerry Lee Lewis and we were seated next to her. She was dressed in diamonds and furs.
There was a nice gentleman who sat down next to me. Barbara had moved to another area for some reason and i think it was to be closer to the bar but this gentleman struck up a conversation with me about music. He introduced himself and I do not remember his name but he and I talked about writing and he said that he was a writer out of Nashville. It was then that Jerry Lee had finished his set and went backstage. The gentleman asked naive me, if I would like to meet Jerry Lee. I saw no harm. We walked backstage and there were a barrage of people back there and it was noisy. The man and I continued to talk about producers and writers and ASCAP and BMI and royalties. It was about this time a drunken, or doped, Jerry Lee Lewis stumbled into the room. He was cursing and was in his underwear and it seems like a robe thrown around him. He was wearing Boxers not briefs. I decided right then to leave the room. I was kind of working my way through the room to the door when Jerry Lee approached me. The gentleman apologized and said he was sorry his boss was in this way.
As I started for the door, God as my witness, Jerry Lee Lewis jerked and grabbed me by the arm and said, Want to come to my hotel room after the show and proceeded to stick his tongue down my throat. Maybe I was one of many ...I only remember me. I hesitated and pushed him away and slapped him hard and he slurring his words said, “ This mean you ain’t coming to the party”. I pushed people out of the way when this writer ran after me and kept apologizing and said, “Oh Man, the killer is gonna be mad at me” Women don’t slap Jerry Lee. This woman did but tears stung my eyes. I was walking fast. He said, “ Hey ..I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was gonna do that. I think he did so he was not such a gentleman after all and possibly a Harem arranger for Jerry’s pleasure. I got back in the main room and my eyes went searching for Barb and her aunt. I had to practically threaten to take her car and keys and get outta there. She was mad and wanting to stay and I was so upset I couldn’t see straight.
We finally got in her car and I was driving and I never ever went off with Barb again. I went to hear a famous singer, sing. I met a gentleman I thought to have conversation and a pleasant evening. I did not go to the club to get assaulted . I did not even think of it as assault at the time.. I just felt dirty and wondered if going backstage put me in that place. No one seemed to think it was out of the way. Maybe it wasn’t in 1974. I have told few people about this and did not even share with you guys in that diary Sunday. I thought about it in detail after Ms. Leeds came out last night and when Michelle Obama told about how violated we all felt. I was not drinking. I was not flirting.. I was just in the same place as a famous musician.
I understand why these people including Natasha did not say anything. I get it
I really know why. Some of these sleazy famous people do think they are doing you a favor by imposing their intentions upon you. who would file charges against a famous singer in the 70’s and who would even defend me? No one.
Since that time I have accompanied my husband backstage at the Grand ole opry with more famous people and they never ever disrespected me. I would leave however, if Jerry Lee Lewis ( The Killer) ever had shown up at the Opry. My one encounter with him was enough. I wonder how many women HE violated.
I looked at the google at found old clubs of the 70’s just like I did in 2008 and found this link and yes, I was right..it was in March and the year was 1974. The schedule is found in that link.
Me in the red at Christmas that year….with family members at my Dad’s.
x YouTube VideoLori Lee Lewis (b. 1972). Pate drowned in a swimming pool at the home of a friend with whom she was staying, several weeks before divorce proceedings could be finalized.[32] His fifth marriage, to Shawn Stephens, lasted 77 days, from June to August 1983, ending with her death.[33] It has been alleged by Richard Ben Cramer that Lewis abused her and may have been responsible for her death, but the allegations have never been verified.[34]
1974… this is the dress I was assaulted in. This became the high top red dress to wear in my 20’s. No low cuts for me for years to come.