Birth name Louis Brownstein Name Lew Brown Role Lyricist | Occupation(s) Lyricist Children Arlyne Brown Mulligan Years active 1920's–1950's | |
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Born December 10, 1893 ( 1893-12-10 ) Movies Indiscreet, Flying High, Good News Spouse Sylvia Fiske, Catherine Junewich Similar People | ||
Grandchildren Reed Brown Mulligan |
Rudy Vallee - Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries 1931
Lew Brown (December 10, 1893 – February 5, 1958), born Louis Brownstein, was a lyricist for popular songs in the United States. He wrote lyrics for many of the top Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the day, including Albert Von Tilzer, Con Conrad, and Harold Arlen. He was one third of a successful songwriting and music publishing team with Ray Henderson and Buddy De Sylva from 1925 until 1929. Brown also wrote or co-wrote several Broadway shows.
Contents
- Rudy Vallee Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries 1931
- DONT BRING LULU A SONG FROM 1925 WRITTEN BY LEW BROWN BILLY ROSE RAY HENDERSON
- Early life
- Career
- Death
- In popular culture
- Individual songs
- Broadway
- References
DON'T BRING LULU - A SONG FROM 1925 - WRITTEN BY LEW BROWN, BILLY ROSE & RAY HENDERSON
Early life
Brown was born 19 December 1893 in Odessa, Russian Empire. His family immigrated to the United States in 1898 and settled in The Bronx of New York City.
Career
Brown started writing for Tin Pan Alley in 1912 and collaborated with established composers, like Albert Von Tilzer. One of their well-known works is I'm Going Back to Kentucky Sue (1912). His first hit "I'm the Lonesomest Gal in Town" was in 1912 and it was written by Albert Von Tilzer.
Later, Brown was part of a song writing team with Buddy DeSylva and Ray Henderson. DeSylva left in 1931 but Brown and Henderson continued scoring Broadway shows. He also worked with other composers like Sammy Fain.
Brown wrote the lyrics to Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (1942) which appeared in the film Private Buckaroo. Glenn Miller's version popularized it with World War II soldiers. Not long after this hit, Brown retired from songwriting.
Death
Brown died in New York City on 5 February 1958.
In popular culture
He was portrayed by Ernest Borgnine in the 1956 film The Best Things in Life Are Free, about the songwriting team of Brown, De Sylva and Henderson.
Individual songs
Broadway
Source: PlaybillVault
Posthumous Credits