Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Lew Brown

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Birth name
  
Louis Brownstein

Name
  
Lew Brown

Origin
  
Odessa, Russian Empire

Role
  
Lyricist


Occupation(s)
  
Lyricist

Children
  
Arlyne Brown Mulligan

Years active
  
1920's–1950's

Lew Brown cpsstaticrovicorpcom3JPG400MI0001725MI000

Born
  
December 10, 1893 (
1893-12-10
)

Associated acts
  
Albert Von Tilzer, Con Conrad, Harold Arlen, Ray Henderson, Buddy De Sylva

Died
  
February 5, 1958, New York City, New York, United States

Movies
  
Indiscreet, Flying High, Good News

Spouse
  
Sylvia Fiske, Catherine Junewich

Similar People
  
Ray Henderson, Buddy DeSylva, Sam H Stept, Charles Tobias, Albert Von Tilzer

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

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.

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

  • Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown. I'm Going Back to Kentucky Sue. New York: York, 1912. OCLC 16992118
  • Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown. Au Revoir But Not Good Bye, Soldier Boy. Broadway Music, 1917. OCLC 459552706
  • Von Tilzer, Alber, Charles McCarron, and Lew Brown. What Kind of an American are You?. Broadway Music, 1917. OCLC 72437572
  • Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown. I May Be Gone for a Long, Long Time. Broadway Music, 1917. OCLC 20119729
  • Brown, Lew, Charles Tobias, and Sam H. Stept. Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me). New York: Robbins Music Corp, 1942. OCLC 26008183
  • Al Harriman and Lew Brown. I Can't Stay Here While You're Over There. New York, 1918
  • Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. I May Stay Away a Little Longer. New York, 1918
  • I'll Come Back to You When It's All Over (1917) m: Kerry Mills
  • Darl MacBoyle and Lew Brown. Since Johnny Got His Gun. m: Albert Von Tilzer. New York, 1917
  • Edgar Leslie and Lew Brown. They Start in to Battle Again. New York, 1914
  • Max Friedman, Lew Porter and Lew Brown. Tillie Don't Be So Silly. New York, 1919
  • Al Harriman and Lew Brown. We'll Do Our Share (While You're Over There). m: Jack Egan. New York, 1918
  • If You Were the Only Girl (1916)
  • Dapper Dan (1921)

    • Broadway

    Source: PlaybillVault

  • George White's Scandals of 1925 (1925) – revue – co-lyricist
  • George White's Scandals of 1926 (1926) – revue – co-lyricist
  • Good News (1927) – musical – co-lyricist
  • Manhattan Mary (1927) – musical – contributing composer, lyricist, and bookwriter
  • George White's Scandals of 1928 (1928) – revue – co-lyricist
  • Hold Everything! (1928) – musical – co-lyricist
  • Follow Thru (1929) – musical – co-lyricist
  • Flying High (1930) – musical – co-lyricist
  • George White's Scandals of 1931 (1931) – revue – lyricist
  • I'm Writing to You Sammy (1917) m: Al Marriman
  • His Majesty, the American (1919) m: Albert Von Tilzer
  • Hot-Cha! (1932) – Musical theater – lyricist and co-bookwriter
  • Strike Me Pink (1933) – revue – co-producer, lyricist, writer, and production supervisor
  • Calling All Stars (1934) – revue – producer, writer, lyricist, director, and production supervisor
  • Yokel Boy (1939) – musical – producer, director, bookwriter, co-composer, co-lyricist
  • Crazy With the Heat (1941) – revue – director
  • Mr. Wonderful (1956) – musical – featured songwriter for "Birth of the Blues"
  • Oh You La La (1918) with Ed Moran and Harry Tush
  • Wait Til You Get Them Up in the Air boys (1919) m: Albert Von Tilzer
  • Watch Hope and Wait Little Girl I'm Coming Back to You (1918) m: Will Clayton
  • Yanks Are at It Again (1918) m: Rubey Cowan

    • Posthumous Credits

  • Good News (1974 revision/revival) – co-composer, co-lyricist
  • Big Deal (1986) – musical – featured co-songwriter for "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" and "Button Up Your Overcoat"
  • Fosse (1999) – revue – featured co-songwriter for "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries"
  • Swing! (1999) – revue – featured songwriter for "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree"

    • References

    Lew Brown Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA