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. 1963). I dropped the bomb. They called it the devils music. Brown, who is known today as an author, is Lewis' first cousin once removed. What was happening back then, rock n roll was coming on very, very strong. And when I said what I said, it was like his hair caught on fire. Myra Brown was born on July 11, 1944, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and She was 78 years old as of 2022. Family Members. Lewis was 22. Lewis married once more to Jaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate the following year. Whats going on? She described how Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records, urged Lewis to "get out of town" quickly. Here is a closer look at his family! You come out of the fire you make it. Myra Gale Brown was the daughter of J.W. 3. Jerry Lee Lewis, 23, married Myra Gale Brown in 1957. It was crude and rude and ridiculous what it was doing to the teenagers. Despite Elvis success, Brown felt that the world just wasnt ready for rock and roll. After reading about the third wife of Jerry Lee Lewis, Myra Gale Brown, check out Lori Maddox and Sable Starr, two teenage groupies who made a career out of chasing after rock stars. Williams briefly remarried to Pete Malito from 1970 to 1972. The 1989 biopic Great Balls of Fire, which starred Dennis Quaid as Lewis and a 17-year-old Winona Ryder as Myra, was based on Williams first book of the same name. Lewis Fired, Then Sued His Daughter. How long was Jerry Lee Lewis married to his cousin, in this case? Brown, Lewis' cousin and the bass player in his band. [14], Brown hired writer Murray Silver to co-write a book that was meant to be her autobiography, but after a publisher's editing it became Great Balls of Fire: The Uncensored Story of Jerry Lee Lewis. It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myra's younger brother. Myra Gale Brown was born on July 11, 1944, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the daughter of Lois (ne Neal) and J.W. All Rights Reserved. The embarrassment over the marriage annihilated Lewiss promising stone profession, however, reinforced their marriage. After 30 years of rock n roll movies, is it too much to ask Hollywood to make a biography that reaches for insight rather than nostalgia; a film with enough imagination and heart to add to a performers artistic legacy rather than belittle it? Join the New Times community and help support The "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On and Great Balls of Fire" hitmaker had eloped with Myra Gale Brown in December 1957, the result of a romance that developed when he moved into the Memphis home of Myras father, JW Brown, who was Lewis cousin and bass player, according to Lewis' obituary in The Times. 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. In an Instagram post from 2015, Williams discussed her relationship with Lewis after . Jerry Lee Lewis plays the piano for his 13-year-old bride at the Cafe de Paree. This was a one-night jam session at Sun Studios. Myra (given name) The name Myra was created by the 17th-century poet Fulke Greville 1st Barone Brooke (1554-1628). He got the scoop and I let the cat out of the bag. (The situation was not helped by the fact that his latest single was called "High School Confidential."). He was blacklisted from the radio. The revelation resulted in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis tour; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped overnight. At the time, she hadn't realized that there was anything wrong with her relationship with Lewis. J.W. "I'm right here! My daddy will kill you. And he said, Oh no, he wont. Let's, Utz Chwalla estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. When J.W. Myra gale brown Stock Photos and Images. There were plenty of ups and downs in her marriage to Lewis. Go to college, get an education, then figure it out.' Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown shortly after their wedding in December 1957. Lewis and Myra were divorced in 1970. Quick filters: Black & white. However, it was discovered that she was only 13, and that they had been married for five months. During his life, he was married 7 times & welcomed 6 children into the world. Myra Gale Brown estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Lewis Williams with their newborn son Steve Allen Lewis on Feb. 28, 1959, in Ferriday, Louisiana. 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 Jerrys wife.. [4] Lewis asserted that Brown was 15 years old and was his wife of two months. But it didn't delve deep enough into exploring Lewis' indomitable character. 1:11 Many remember Jerry Lee Lewis for the prolific music career that cemented his status as a rock 'n' roll icon before his death at age 87 Friday. You just stare and wonder, Oh my God, where am I? He outlived Elvis, but his career as a rock star was forever crippled by the scandal. 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Its noon, and the lobby of the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel is swarming with the ladies-who-lunch set. She was a stolid, hard-working black woman who'd taken care of Jerry Lee since before he moved down here from Memphis more than ten years, that made it. On December 12, 1958, Myra, 13, married Lewis, 22, in Hernando, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). Not only were they criticizing her age, they were also pointing out the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis had once again married before his divorce was finalized. [1] In 1949, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, when J.W. She was married to her cousin, rock star Jerry Lee Lewis. While promoting the book, she took to Instagram to air some of the sordid details. But I pulled through it. "He told him my parents found [his] marriage license," she said. Im really glad I didnt though because its gotten better as Ive gotten older.. With a new memoir, The Spark That Survived," she wrote at the time, sharing an image emblazoned with "Whatever happened to Myra?" Lewis went on to marry four more times. Her second book chronicled her experiences becoming a mother at age 14 and then again at 17 and losing their son Steve by accidental drowning in 1962. Williams, 78, said in 2016 that shes been right here the whole time but she apparently no longer had a relationship with her notorious ex-husband after 2015. Lewis tour was canceled. It was in 1958 when British journalists learned of the tender young age of Myra Gale Brown, and the ensuing uproar caused Lewis to cancel his tour and spoiled his chance to dethrone Elvis as the. As shes currently familiar, Myra Lewis Williams created those comments to journalist Alan light-weight once he met up with her and Lewis for a 2010 story for Rolling Stone. Thats exactly what it was.". Jerry Lee Lewis 1935 - 2022. I guess if I had to do it all over again, Id have to do some things differently. I tried to ignore the reporter, but he kept insisting. He was set to become rock music's biggest star, as the tour was supposed to establish his worldwide fame. Jerry Lee Lewis married his second cousin Myra Gale Brown when she was just 13. At the time, Jerry was married toJane Mitchum, which was his second marriage after he split from his first wife,Dorothy Barton. Myra Gale Brown : Why won't they go away? 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. Myra Gale Brown (born July 11, 1944) is the cousin and former wife of singer Jerry Lee Lewis. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "And thats how we got married," she chuckled. He had taken a friend of his to the courthouse. (She filed for divorce in 1970, citing allegations of abuse and adultery.). Today, Myra Williams, 78, reflects on the scandal and her late ex-husband. Parents. Now I'm older and wiser, and [not] malleable in the hands of others. She had wanted to tell the story of a woman surviving difficult circumstances and inspire women to understand their own strengths,[18] so she published her memoir, The Spark That Survived, in 2016. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). I went out and found us a house. It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myras younger brother. "Its the path not taken. Alamy Stock Photo One of the most shocking scandals involving cradle-snatching rock stars was the marriage of the. My 1988 book and the resulting movie, Great Balls of Fire, were just the beginning. But when he and his entourage landed in London, the press was eager to . Jerry Lee Lewis may be a lot of things, but hes not a simple cartoon., Williams again addressed their scandalous relationship in her 2016 memoir, The Spark That Survived. While promoting the book, she took to Instagram to air some of the sordid details. His second marriage in September 1953 had caused quite a stir when people realized it had taken place 23 days before his first divorce was final. And nothing was going to change it.". Did Jerry Lee Lewis marry his niece? What I wanted was a baby in my arms, a home, a husband, a kitchen to cook in, a yard to raise roses. "And Jerry gave it to themwell, I did, I opened my mouth. in 2004.. Before Kurt and Courtney, Sid and Nancy, or John and Yoko, there was Jerry Lee Lewis and his thirteen-year-old bride, Myra Gale Brown. On May 17, 2022, he shared a group photo with his dad and family. In a separate Instagram post from 2015, Williams elaborated on her later relationship with the rocker, sharing a photo of them with their daughter, Phoebe. He sought out his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, who was also an unknown musician at the time. I not only survived it, Im better for it, having gone through it. Before Lewis and Myra Gale Browns marriage, Lewis was known as a Rock n Roll star, but his career went south after he married his 13 old year cousin, and Myra Brown introduced herself as Jerrys wife after marriage. I hope my story helps you handle your own ups and downs. Jerry Lee Lewis pictured with his daughter Phoebe at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, West London. (Couples married young in his Louisiana hometown of Ferriday, and he wed for the first time when he was 16 and had seven wives over the course of his life.). His earnings dropped overnight to virtually nothing. Theyve Had an Inappropriate Relationship For Months, How Black Creators Can Expand Their Network with LinkedIn, Jerry Lee Lewis was a recording artist known for his hit song Great Balls of Fire.. Lewis was 22 and Williams was 13, and the press came down hard on him when it was revealed that she was also his second cousin and that Lewis was still married to his second wife, Jane Mitchum, when they wed. Getty Images. 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. ", Jerry Lee Lewis, rock 'n' roll pioneer and perpetual ball of fire, dies at 87, "It was something that marked Jerry for life," she said. The name may be derived from Miranda as it can be the shortened version the name Mira. When they got back to Memphis, it had been found that Brown was the little girl of Lewis cousin and bass player, J.W. Small world. "He called me out to his car and showed me something. If I can survive life's worst tragedies and my own dumb-ass decisions, you can, too. " The tour in London was booked. Many rememberJerry Lee Lewisfor the prolificmusic career that cemented his status as a rock 'n' roll icon before his death at age 87 Friday. Jerry Lee Lewis eventually got his career back in the late 1960s as a country performer, where his personal life was not viewed with such outrage. But that career hit a sharp nosedive in 1958,whenthe 22-year-old musician'smarriage to Myra Gale Brown, his 13-year-old cousin,became public. Lewis hadseven wives throughout his life, and Williams was his third. At the point when Lewis showed up in London for a 37-date visit, Brown uncovered to inquisitive writers that she was his better half. She became a licensed broker in 1984, and is a recipient of the Million Dollar Life Time Award 2003. The book propelled the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire!, featuring Dennis Quaid as Lewis and Winona Ryder as Brown. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Jerry Lee Lewis was a rock n' roll pioneer & died at the age of 87 years old. In 1957, Lewis infamously married his 13-year-old first cousin once removed, Myra Gale Brown. In 1956, Lewis moved in with J.W. Franklin D. Roosevelt. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. [5] The scandal over the marriage destroyed Lewis' promising rock and roll career,[8] although he subsequently found success in country music. She is a writer, known for Great Balls of Fire! [10][11] Brown filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery and abuse,[5] stating that she had been "subject to every type of physical and mental abuse imaginable. On December 12, 1957, Jerry married his third cousin, Myra Gale Brown. ", Williams again addressed their scandalous relationship in her 2016 memoir, "The Spark That Survived." 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