Unconquered: The Saga of Cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley

You should listen to the music of each as you read this book to better “feel” their stories. The book will then come alive.

I liked that Davis ck'd with the living people he wrote abt, as well as verifying the facts. I grew up in Shreveport, La & was able to see many C&W celebs & those on their way up, so, as a "teeny-bopper" I saw Jerry Lee play while Brenda Lee was the headliner at the Municipal Auditorium. He stole the show! Then, I lived in Houston when Gilley's was there, so I was interested in reading abt the back story of all that. He was also my son's neighbor, in Pasadena, so it was sad to read abt all the health issues he struggled thru...but inspirational, too, as my son suffered a spine injury, as well. My Granny was a Jimmy Swaggart fan & I recall the big dustup in So.La. I also recall the big deal of Jerry Lee's marriage to his cousin, tho I thought it was much ado abt nothing, being from the south, myself. People didn't seem to remember that in England, it was almost required, they marry their kin! My Grannys were from KY & it's a standing joke that if you run into anyone else with Ky ties, they're probably kin to you. ;) Anyway, I'm still enjoying this book & re-reading much of it. I see that another cousin, Jerry Lee's little sister, Linda Gail, is touring & picking up the slack, now. She's a highly respected performer, as well.

I come from a Pentecostal background and this trio of cousins have been discussed numerous times over coffee and lunch by myself and friends. You think you know things, but this book tells you the truth about things...it confirms the legends and negates the rumors.Mr. Davis does a wonderful job of weaving their lives together (there is no other way to tell their stories) as well as focusing in on personal struggles and private demons of each man. Their talents are unquestionable. The way their individual families handled them is so different, though and the influence of each family had a great deal to do with where they ended up on the success continuum.I love biographies for one major reason: I learn about family dynamics and the psychology behind how people end up where they do in life. It fascinates me and so I gravitate to biographical accounts. This book was very satisfying in that regard. Having been raised in a background similar to these men, it helped me to understand struggles I have encountered (they why factor) and to also reinforce my thinking that our choices are what matter most in this life.You cannot remove religion from the palette that paints these men, so if you are a person who doesn't care to hear about such things, then don't read this book. The ever-present influence of religion and (to a greater degree) Pentecostalism is intrinsic to their story. Without that angle, there is no story. So, I'm letting any potential reader know now, this book dredges those depths.Great book. I learned SO MUCH about these guys, and I have to say I've formed a new-found respect for Mickey Gilley because of this story. I liked him before, but after this book I do think he is an exceptional person.Excellent work, JD Davis.

I bought this book after seeing Mickey Gilley in concert for the second time. First was in Jackpot NV. Second in Branson MO. With Johnny Lee on the Urban Cowboy Reunion Tour. Mickey promoted the book and I bought it. It is well written and interesting. Some sad undertones as all three (Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Lee Lewis) achieved fame and financial success. Yet you wonder, just as with Elvis and so many others, if their lives would have been happier had they followed a different path. Mickey seems so happy just to be up on stage, and that folks come out to interact with him. And the audience is equally pleased. The night I saw him in Branson he was leaving the next day for stem cell surgery for his back. I wish him all the best. The book is a great insight to an American life. I would recommend it to anyone, music fan or not.

For anyone who is a fan of Jerry Lee Lewis and his cousins, you will find this book filled with interesting information, photos, and memories of those who were fans of their music, etc. since the 1950's. I was amazed at all the information on their families and how they were related as well as their lives of shared experiences, etc. I am so glad I had the chance to read this. I was a teenager in the mid-fifties and Jerry's music was very much a part of my memories of the best days of Rock 'N Roll beginnings. Sock hops and records and ponytails......it was a special time in history.When my daughter became an adult, we took her to see Jerry Lee Lewis in person. She had taken piano lessons as a child and was amazed at his ability to play the piano without ever having lessons. She still talks about that night in California when she had a chance to see the person who was such a huge part of my teenage years. Very Enjoyable reading!

I am never sure if we are getting a true story or a well-written story about entertainers. This time, it seems like a lot of truth and facts have been presented without sensationalizing them or idolizing them. Showing how these three cousins each originated in a small town with limited prospects for their future, and then taking the reader through their individual life journey that brings them to the top of their respective fields is both complex, and very carefully crafted writing. Even if you are not a big fan of any of these men, the rugged determination displayed to make something of themselves is inspiring. A good read for those who enjoy biographical writing.

This book gives some fresh insights into the career of Jerry Lee Lewis, which is the main reason I bought it. The sections on Mickey Gilley were also interesting to me, but the Jimmy Swaggart chapters less so. The influence of religion for better or worse on these three men is explored here, and I can appreciate the 'preacher man' style on some of Jerry Lee's Country recordings better for having read the book. Jerry Lee once said that Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams and Al Jolson(!) were the three stylists he admired most, but added himself to the same musical pantheon, taking greatness as 'his due'. The author has done his research well for this book, but like me you may find some parts more interesting than others. Brian O'Connell

Great Seller, I Am Satisfied To 100 Procent!

Informative and a must read for Al JLL fans.

Interesting the three cousins where of a era never to be repeated. It displays how very strong their childhood religious upbringing has influenced their whole lives in different ways.

Unconqured is a great book. Well written, informative and covers both the triumphs and controversy that all three cousins have endured. This book really approaches the lives of these celebrities with a respect for their talents, yet still offers an honest look at their lives and missteps along the way. Well worth reading.