These vintage pics of Jerry Lee Lewis with his new wife, Myra Gale Brown, accompanied by his sister Jean as they arrive at Idlewild Airport in New York City on May 28, 1958. Hollywood Life, Latest Hollywood Celebrity & Entertainment News. If I can survive life's worst tragedies and my own dumb-ass decisions, you can, too. "Phoebe worked for him and when I visited her I would still see him, too. American actor Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis and Winona Ryder as Myra Gale Brown in the film "Great Balls of Fire!", a 1989 biopic of the famous rock 'n' roll musician. Franklin D. Roosevelt. The couple welcomed two children, a son named Steve Allen Lewis in 1959 and a daughter named Phoebe Lewis in 1963. The embarrassment over the marriage annihilated Lewiss promising stone profession, however, reinforced their marriage. I was like a deer caught in headlights. Lois (left) and J.W. She co-wrote the book Great Balls of Fire: The Uncensored Story of Jerry Lee Lewis (1982), which was adapted into the film Great Balls of Fire! She is best known for her controversial marriage at the age of 13 to rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis, who is her first cousin once removed. Brown took a job with Memphis Gas, Light and Water, where he worked as a lineman. (Indeed, Lewis had moved in with Myra's parents when he married her.) Though his rock career was forever marred by his marriage to Myra Gale Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis eventually found success in country music. from $6.99 1 New from $6.99 Details the love affair between singer Jerry Lee Lewis and his thirteen-year-old cousin, Myra Brown, and the scandal that resulted from their marriage in 1957 Print length 373 pages Language English Publisher St Martins Pr Publication date January 1, 1989 ISBN-10 0312916418 ISBN-13 978-0312916411 See all details I dealt with [the controversy] a lot better than anybody else did I had not thought like a child in a long time. After the press found out in 1958 that Lewis, then 22, married his young cousin, the rock-and-roll star experienced a tremendous backlash that stalled his career for years. Biography, Net Worth, Gossips, Salary, News & Much More. Myra Lewis Williams, or Myra Gale Brown has been open about her experience as a child bride to Jerry Lee Lewis. ", a 1989 biopic of the famous rock 'n' roll musician. [4] Lewis asserted that Brown was 15 years old and was his wife of two months. She was married to her cousin, rock star Jerry Lee Lewis. Williams has also written two books about her life, including 2016s "The Sparked That Survived. The couple's controversial marriage comes after the newlyweds arrived in London in May 1958 for Lewis' 37-day tour. As of Friday afternoon, Williams had not released a public statement about Lewis' death. And so, the story was cooked up. To Jerry Lee, the uproar was hard to understand: "I plumb married the girl, didn't I?" I think this book will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone, and touch your soul. Im really glad I didnt though because its gotten better as Ive gotten older.. Lewis reinvented himself as a country performer. a little baby sittin' in a high chair. Sadly, Jerry II died in 1973 when he was only 19 years old, perThe Guardian. Myra is still alive today. Rusty Brown is Myra Gale Brown's brother, O'Connor said. Lewis, who died Friday at age 87, weathered professional exile in 1958 after a reporter covering his arrival in London inquired about the young girl in his entourage who ultimately introduced herself as "Jerry's wife.". or redistributed. He possibly based it on Latin myrra meaning "myrrh" (a fragrant resin obtained from a tree ). The couple had two of Lewis' six children: son Steve Allen Lewis (named after former late-night TV host Steve Allen), who tragically drowned when he was only 3 years old, and a daughter, Phoebe, who now manages the singer's career and lives at his ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi. How is this happening? Robert Fontenot Jr. is an entertainment critic and journalist focusing on classic rock and roll and published nationally for more than 25 years. Stinky! When Jerry married his first cousin once removed,Myra, the former couple welcomed two adorable kids together. Their story was previously chronicled in the 1989 film "Great Balls of Fire" starring Dennis Quaid as the performer and Winona Ryder as the former Myra Gale Brown. Lewis hadseven wives throughout his life, and Williams was his third. "And that daddy was looking for him with his trusty little pistol. The press made me out to be a seductive Lolita, which was as far from the truth as it gets. Because we have a daughter, Jerry and I remained in contact for many years, she wrote. . Myra Gale Brown (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. Thats exactly what it was.". . "We dont know, maybe this couple loves each other. Jerry Lee Lewis died at age eighty-seven, and beside the outpouring of tributes to his abilities came reminders of his infamous wedding to his 13-year-old cousin-german in 1957. ", "Its a sad time for the music business and the world," the 78-year-old told Fox News Digital. Instead director Jim McBride, who co-wrote the script with Jack Baran, "ends up simply satirizing the argyle innocence and daffy exuberance of the 50s," according to The Times' review. See more of: Jerry Lee Lewis, myra gale brown. "But I didnt know. "[4][10] Their divorce was finalized on December 9, 1970. At the time, she hadnt realized that there was anything wrong with her relationship with Lewis. Myra Gale Brown was the daughter of J.W. On December 12, 1957, Jerry married his third cousin, Myra Gale Brown. She also described herself as "the adult in the relationship" with Lewis. Prior to their divorce, the former couple welcomed two children, Phoebe and Steve. I hope my story helps you handle your own ups and downs. Theyll be happy and things will be fine. I looked at him and I said, Jerry, are you crazy? The "Great Balls of Fire" rocker's career took a hit following his marriage to Myra Gale Brown, his first cousin once removed and the daughter of Lewis' bassist. The challenges, however, brought them closer together, with Williams describing their following years together as"the happiest years of our marriage. They had two children, Steve Allen Lewis (19591962), who drowned at age three, and daughter Phoebe Allen Lewis (b. The radio stations that didnt play it hated it. She later pursued a career in music and worked on the movie Benji: Off the Leash! It was crude and rude and ridiculous what it was doing to the teenagers. From left: Musicians Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash as "The Million Dollar Quartet" on Dec. 4, 1956, in Memphis, Tennessee. I buried my own. Options, mindsetsthis world has gone so fast the last fifty years that you cant keep up with it. I could so easily have said, Im J.W. In 2014, Brown, then 70 and known as Myra Williams,gave an interview to music journalist Alan Light published inCuepoint, in which she reflected onher shocking relationship with Lewis. I not only survived it, Im better for it, having gone through it. About to depart for the Army, Elvis himself who would soon fall in love with a 14-year-old girl told reporters that if they were in love with each other, it was all right with him. Earthy colored remarried in 1984 and is presently known as Myra Williams. She has a career in real estate in Georgia since 1980 (under the name Myra Williams or Myra Lewis Williams). She became a licensed broker in 1984, and is a recipient of the Million Dollar Life Time Award 2003. Earthy colored wedded Lewis in Hernando, Mississippi on December 12, 1957, at 13 years old. myra gale brown Photos. He convinced disc jockeys to give him a second chance, and the music industry eventually forgave him. [9], By 1970, Lewis' drug addiction, alcoholism, and infidelity took a toll on their marriage. Whether the innocence of the 13 year old girl who married Jerry Lee Lewis, the heartbreak of the young woman struggling with life's events, or the tenacity and spark of the woman speaking now, Myra's voice is alive, humorous, heartfelt, and totally without pretense. 1954). I just dont know which ones theyd be.". She also described Lewis drug addiction, being the victim of abuse, divorcing and jumping into a rebound marriage, the Gwinnett Daily Post said. Phoebe Lewis-Loftin later became her father's manager and lived at his ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi until 2012, when he married Judith Brown,[12] the ex-wife of his first cousin once removed, Rusty Brown (Myra Gale's brother). The proud dad welcomed his first son,Jerry Lee Lewis Jr., in 1953. 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Jerry Lee Lewis 1935 - 2022. If anybody had told me anything, I could have prevented this thing. Second, she was his cousin, and the daughter of his bassist J.W. Unfortunately, returning stateside did nothing to stop the flood of vitriol that was spewing about Lewis and Brown. Myra Gale Brown estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. Though he had gotten married again before his divorce was final, it also came out that his new wife was also his third cousin a 13-year-old named Myra Gale Brown. She was a stolid, hard-working black woman who'd taken care of Jerry Lee since before he moved down here from Memphismore than ten years, that made it. After just a few shows in England, the tour was canceled. So whatever happened to her? Jerry Lee Lewis, who passed away on Oct. 28, 2022, was known as a rock n roll legend. Here is a closer look at his family! After her separation, Brown was momentarily hitched to the criminal investigator she had employed to trail Lewis and record his treacheries. (The situation was not helped by the fact that his latest single was called "High School Confidential."). After several tour dates were canceled, Jerry and his new bride left the country. Lewis and Myra were divorced in 1970. Because that was the truth! Earlier in London, Myra, who was 13 years old and Lewis's third cousin, revealed their secret marriage. Myra Gale Brown today known as Myra Lewis William, was an American author. Brown was injured on the job, he decided to start a band. If I can survive lifes worst tragedies and my own dumb-ass decisions, you can, too.. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Hes no longer part of my life. Lewis married once more to Jaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate the following year. Jerry was quoted as saying to one reporter. ", a 1989 biopic of the famous rock 'n' roll musician. Jane is also the mother to Jerrys second-born son,Ronnie Guy Lewis, 66. He tied the knot with his seventh wife, Judith Brown, on March 9, 2012. In 2016 she published her memoir, The Spark That Survived. Ronnie was born in 1956, about three years into Jerry and Janes marriage. On May 17, 2022, he shared a group photo with his dad and family. "My generation was taught to hide under our desk when the bomb came, so you always had in the back of your mind that any minute, any day, life could come to an end. However, it was discovered that she was only 13, and that they had been married for five months. [20] Now known as Myra Lewis Williams, she resides in Duluth, Georgia with her husband; they own a real estate company. Origins of Jerry Lee Lewis's Nickname: The Killer, 30 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Elvis, 30th Anniversary of 1986 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Biography of Frank Sinatra, Legendary Singer, Entertainer, 25 Best Country Pop Crossover Songs of All Time, American Bandstand - 10 Great Performances. I guess I went through like a trial by fire. Thank you everyone for never giving up!! This is the book I wanted to write then. "'Great Balls of Fire' is the toonof rock movies, with Jerry Lee Lewis reduced on screen to Roger Rabbit," Times music critic Robert Hilburn wrote at the time. Myra Gale Browns height is unknown & weight Not Available right. He also toldThe Guardianhow he copes with having lost a few of his kids and ex wives. I dont know. I took care of everything, the late music star told the outlet in 2015. Browse 82 myra brown stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. On December 12, 1957, Lewis wed a woman named Myra Gale Brown (pictured above), who was also his cousin. Myra Gale Brown (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. (Photo by Zak Hussein - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images). About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . The backlash was swift and deserved. A family spat over money turned ugly in the courts. Son of singer Jerry Lee Lewis & Myra Gail Lewis. Jerry Lee Lewis had already gone through two marriages by 1957; he'd married Jane Mitcham, his second wife, 23 days before his divorce from his first wife, Dorothy Barton, was final. Brown. The British public, fueled by the tabloids branding Lewis as a cradle robber and a baby snatcher, practically drove him out of the country, vehemently abhorring his relationship. He sought out his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, who was also an unknown musician at the time. Longtime Gwinnett resident Myra Lewis Williams has penned a new memoir sharing her life story, including her teenage marriage with her second cousin rock n' roll star Jerry Lee Lewis. ", Williams also described howthe revelation of their marriage hurt Lewis' career, recalling how the musician's "fame and money went down to almost nothing." When we arrived, the reporters were there as everyone got off the plane. I find living is nice and calm this way.". Myra Lewis Williams, also known as Myra Gale Brown, was the third wife of late rock n' roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and more infamously his 13-year-old cousin at the time they got married. Phoenix's independent source of Below is everything to know about the late singers kids! Myra Gale Brown : All I ever wanted was a little pink house with a blue door. | Powered by Artimization. Phoebe worked for him and when I visited her I would still see him, too. For a man from his time and place, however, marrying at 13 and marrying one's third cousin (twice removed) were both fairly commonplace, although Lewis further complicated matters by again marrying before the divorce from his second wife was final. Williams alsorecalled how she "let the big ol cat out of the bag" about their marriage to the pressin Londonwithout realizing the backlash it would spark. All rights reserved. Jerry Lee Lewis was a rock n' roll pioneer & died at the age of 87 years old. Today, Myra Williams, 78, reflects on the scandal and her late ex-husband. and I say, 'Wait a second, youre talking to the little girl nowbe careful what you say.' A little bit down. They were divorced in 2004, according to Spinner.com. PAT BOONE RECALLS MEETING PAL ELVIS PRESLEY: 'HE WAS JUST A SCARED YOUNG KID', "We were driving from Memphis to Louisiana and Phoebe was about three or four years old," she remembered. He is currently married to his seventh wife, Judith Brown, who was once married to Lewis' cousin Rusty. While promoting the book, she took to Instagram to air some of the sordid details. Elvis had been drafted into the military, and Lewis was poised to take his place as rocks biggest name. That memory will never not be funny to me.". ADVERTISEMENT Myra Gale Brown is an American author. " The tour in London was booked. Who are you? I said, Im not anybody. But he insisted. Jerry Lee Lewis marriage to his 13-year-old cousin in 1957 nearly ended his career. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Additionally, his latest single was called High School Confidential, which, though unrelated to his relationship, did not help his case. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. RM 2AGA94W - Rock 'n' roll singer Jerry Lee Lewis, whose British tour was cancelled after he had been jeered on the stage of a London theatre, with his 13-year-old wife, Myra (l) and his sister, Frankie, 15, at London Airport. Myra Gale Brown : I don't know how to be a wife. It turned out that she was a first-cousin once-removed and - shockingly - just 13 years old. My little brother was born because I begged my parents for a baby at ten years old.. American actor Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis and Winona Ryder as his underage wife Myra Gale Brown in the film 'Great Balls of Fire!', a biopic of. Myra Gale Brown was the daughter of J.W. His bride, for her part, told the gathering that 15 wasn't too young to marry back home: "You can marry at 10 if you can find a husband.". Brown played electric bass, and Lewis played piano and sang. Their daughter, Lori, was their only child that they had together. Jerry Lee Lewis is often tagged The Last Man Standing these days, a reference to his status among the core group of musicians who helped ignite the big bang of rock n roll of the 1950s. 1595 Malone Rd. Remember, gossip is not gospel, Williams wrote on Instagram in 2015. She described the memoir as her story of how to overcome lifes worst tragedies and your own dumbass decisions.. Myra Gale Brown (born July 11, 1944) is the cousin and former wife of singer Jerry Lee Lewis. [19] The book details her tumultuous marriage to Lewis and how she built a new life for herself after their divorce. 19 . Join the New Times community and help support Her Instagram account has been dormant since early 2016. I pray, and I think about the things I have now.. That Time Jerry Lee Lewis Married Myra Gale Brown, His 13-Year-Old Cousin. She described how Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records, urged Lewis to "get out of town" quickly. "Jerry Lee Lewis may be a lot of things, but hes not a simple cartoon. All Rights Reserved. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Who are you? And I said, Oh, Im Jerrys wife. I may as well drop the bomb in the middle of London Town.". In America, he told them, it was quite all right to marry at age 15, even at 10, provided you could find a husband. I went out and found us a house. Myra Lewis Williams told Fox News Digital her father was furious when he learned of the marriage. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images), Lewis and Williams, his second cousin, married in 1957 when he was 22, and she was 13. She is a writer, known for Great Balls of Fire! Lewis was 22. And he brought his marriage license home to me for us to get married. But Lewis had a storied private life, and his career took a nosedive in the late 1950s, when he married Myra Gale Brown. She co-wrote many books, such as Great Book Of Fire and The Spark That Survived, and earned peoples love and popularity through her book. Little did they know what it was going to turn into.". 1954). However, since his marriage a few years ago to my ex-sister-in-law, who wasnt an ex yet when they got together (yes, you read that correctly), Phoebe quit working for him and I havent seen him since. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images), "Thats the toughest question to answer because it would change everybodys life mine, his, our children," she said. "Ive had a different life here," she said. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images), Fox News Flash Top Entertainment Headlines 10/31, Emma Stones 'And' co-star Willem Dafoe had her slap him 20 times to get scene right, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life. "He told him my parents found [his] marriage license," she said. (Photo by Keith Hamshere/Getty Images), "He had gone to Louisiana and came back," she recalled. Brown's family in the Coro Lake neighborhood in south Memphis. His bride, Myra Gale. She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows. Famous People Who Married Their Cousins. "My 1988 book and the resulting movie, Great Balls of Fire, were just the beginning. Lewis stated that Brown was 15 years of age and was his better half of two months; in any case, it was found that she was just 13, and that they had been hitched for almost five months. [5] This caused an uproar and after a few dates the tour was cancelled. Would Williams do it all over again if she could? Lewis in the long run discovered achievement in down-home music. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.