Lew Brown

Brown was born December 10, 1893, in Odessa, Russian Empire, part of today's Ukraine, the son of Etta (Hirsch) and Jacob Brownstein. His family was Jewish. When he was five, his family immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School but he left, at the suggestion of a teacher, to pursue his songwriting career without graduating. Lew Brown was married first to Sylvia Fiske, then to Catherine "June" Brown until his death. He had two daughters from his first marriage, Naomi Brown Greif and Arlyne Brown Mulligan who was married to the prominent jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan. ==Career==

Brown started writing for Tin Pan Alley in 1912 and collaborated with established composers, like Albert Von Tilzer. Two of their well-known works that year were "(I'm Going Back to) Kentucky Sue" and "I'm the Lonesomest Gal in Town". Brown then wrote a string of popular World War I songs during 1914–1918, teaming with Von Tilzer, Al Harriman, and other composers. "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Von Tilzer, DeSylva, Brown and Henderson were all included in the inaugural class of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Biographical film The DeSylva, Brown and Henderson songwriting team was the subject of the 1956 musical biopic: The Best Things in Life Are Free, produced by the Ephrons and based on a storyline by John O'Hara, who would have met and known them in twenties New York. Brown, who was still living when the film came out, was portrayed somewhat unflatteringly as being the most pugnacious and flawed of the trio by lookalike Ernest Borgnine. ==Death==

Brown died of a heart attack at home in New York City on February 5, 1958. ==Individual songs== • Cecil Mack and Lew Brown, "Shine". Music: Ford Dabney. 1910. • Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. "(I'm Going Back to) Kentucky Sue". New York: The York Music Co., 1912. • Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. "I'm The Lonesomest Gal In Town". New York: The York Music Co., 1912. • "I'll Come Back to You When It's All Over". Music: Kerry Mills. 1917. • Lew Brown and Al Harriman. "I Wonder What They're Doing To-Night (Your Girl and Mine)". Music: Jack Egan. New York, 1918. • Al Harriman and Lew Brown. "We'll Do Our Share (While You're Over There)". Music: Jack Egan. New York, 1918. • ''George White's Scandals of 1925'' – revue – co-lyricist • ''George White's Scandals of 1926'' – revue – co-lyricist • Good News (1927) – musical – co-lyricist • Manhattan Mary (1927) – musical – contributing composer, lyricist, bookwriter • ''George White's Scandals of 1928'' – revue – co-lyricist • Hold Everything! (1928) – musical – co-lyricist • Three Cheers (1928) – musical – contributing lyricist • The Singing Fool (1928) – musical film – co-lyricist • Sunny Side Up (1929) – musical film – co-lyricist, co-bookwriter • Follow Thru (1929) – musical – co-lyricist • Follow Thru (1930) – musical film – co-lyricist • Flying High (1930) – musical – co-lyricist • Flying High (1931) – musical film – co-lyricist • ''George White's Scandals of 1931'' – revue – lyricist • Indiscreet (1931) – comedy film – co-producer, co-writer, co-lyricist • Hot-Cha! (1932) – musical – lyricist, co-bookwriter • Strike Me Pink (1933) – revue – co-producer, lyricist, co-writer, production co-supervisor • Calling All Stars (1934) – revue – producer, co-writer, lyricist, co-director, production supervisor • Stand Up and Cheer! (1934) – musical film – associate producer, co-composer, lyricist, co-bookwriter • ''Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938'' – featured co-songwriter for "That Old Feeling" • Yokel Boy (1939) – musical – producer, director, bookwriter, co-composer, co-lyricist • Crazy With the Heat (1941) – revue – director • Good News (1947) – musical film – co-lyricist • Mr. Wonderful (1956) – musical – featured co-songwriter for "The Birth of the Blues" 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 co-songwriter for "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" ==References==