Though he first imitated the preaching of the tent evangelists of his Southern youth, he quickly learned the masterful use of media, first radio and later television. Swaggart chose instead to deliver fire-and-brimstone sermons, always tough on sin, especially that of a sensual nature. Scorning as bland sentimentality the positive thinking of other religious opinion makers, he further rejected the ecumenical spirit of Billy Graham. But he chose preaching, evolving a pulpit manner characterized by physical gyrations, abundant tears, and impassioned Biblical declamations. A self-trained piano virtuoso, whose hot Gospel stylings were barely distinguishable from the rock 'n' roll standards performed by his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Swaggart might have become a major popular music artist.
A leading televangelist of the 1980s, Jimmy Swaggart became an American celebrity whose rise and fall were both comedy and tragedy.
