He sought out his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, who was also an unknown musician at the time. In 1957, Lewis infamously married his 13-year-old first cousin once removed, Myra Gale Brown. Hes no longer part of my life. I guess if I had to do it all over again, Id have to do some things differently. A reporter came up to me and said, Excuse me miss, didnt I see you get off that plane? Myra and Jerry Lewiss marriage was considered the most controversial marriage in history. This time there are no holds barred. Williams, 78, said in 2016 that she's been "right here" the whole time but she apparently no longer had a relationship with her notorious ex-husband after 2015. When we arrived, the reporters were there as everyone got off the plane. Ronnie was born in 1956, about three years into Jerry and Janes marriage. Now I'm older and wiser, and [not] malleable in the hands of others. Your daddy likes me and your mama likes me. I just kept telling him, They will kill you.", "The next day, he said, You wanna go to a movie or something?" Williams shared. in 2004. She was known as the wife of Lewisrock n roll star Jerry Lewis. Though they were no longer together, they remained amicable throughout the rest of Lewis marriages and still keep up with each other. They were divorced in 2004, according to Spinner.com. Did Arkansas women's basketball do enough to make March Madness? She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows. Because that was the truth! 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. [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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! How is this happening? They called it the devils music. After her separation, Brown was momentarily hitched to the criminal investigator she had employed to trail Lewis and record his treacheries. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Lewis was poised to replace Presley as rock n roll's new hit-maker. The Ferriday, LA native moved in with his cousin J.W. Myra Lewis Williams described Jerry Lee Lewis as "a country bumpkin who wore blue jeans and had ears that stuck out" when they first met. Browse 82 myra brown stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 1 on iTunes Charts, 36 songs, no apologies: Morgan Wallen delivers more (much more) of what made him countrys king, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Billie Eilishs phone is now internet-free: Im like: Ew! Lewis was 22. She dwells in Duluth, Georgia with her better half Richard Williams. .Once Mary Gale Brown and Lew divorced in 1970, Williams same she had been subject to each sort of physical and mental abuse possible,. ". Brown's family in the Coro Lake neighborhood in south Memphis. Dad, youre the greatest and I love you!, he captioned the snapshot. Lewis upended pop music with Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On and Great Balls of Fire, but his personal life was a chronicle of scandal and controversy. Jerry Lee Lewis made global headlines after news of his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin Myra Gale Brown came to light in 1958. Brown took a job with Memphis Gas, Light and Water, where he worked as a lineman. However, Williams said she wants to look back at the happier times they had. ", JERRY LEE LEWIS, 'GREAT BALLS OF FIRE' SINGER, DEAD AT 87, American actor Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis and Winona Ryder as Myra Gale Brown in the film "Great Balls of Fire! "In my little mind, I couldnt believe that they could not see that I was a grown woman," she said. If I can survive life's worst tragedies and my own dumb-ass decisions, you can, too. Myra Gale Brown was the daughter of J.W. Biography, Net Worth, Gossips, Salary, News & Much More. Before Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown divorced in 1970, the couple had two children, one of whom died as a child and the other who manages his career today. There were plenty of ups and downs in her marriage to Lewis. American actor Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis and Winona Ryder as Myra Gale Brown in the film "Great Balls of Fire! Along with Murray Silver, Brown composed an account of Lewis, Great Balls of Fire: The Uncensored Story of Jerry Lee Lewis. "And thats how we got married," she chuckled. She posed as me and signed the marriage license application. She is as of now a realtor in Atlanta, Georgia. But when he and his entourage landed in London, the press was eager to . I mean, he was ready to kill. Is Sex/Life Season 3 Happening? But it was a different world, things have changed so drastically. Elvis Presley, the biggest rock star in the world, was dating a 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who would later become his wife. First, Myra Gale Brown had been just 13 years old when they got married on Dec. 12, 1957. She also described herself as "the adult in the relationship" with Lewis. Little did they know what it was going to turn into.. The press made me out to be a seductive Lolita, which was as far from the truth as it gets. ", "Myra Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis' 13-year-old bride, speaks out", "Jerry Lee Lewis Married His 13-Year-Old Cousin And Ruined His Career", "Jerry Lee Lewis' teenage bride speaks out: 'I was the adult and Jerry was the child', "Jerry Lee Lewis' Lawsuit Against Daughter Dismissed by Judge", "Cousin's ex becomes Jerry Lee Lewis' 7th wife", "The Tiny Spark That Survived: The Rock 'n' Roll Life of Star's Child Bride", "Jerry Lee Lewis' former teenage wife releases new book", "Cannes Review: Ethan Coen's 'Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble In Mind', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Myra_Lewis_Williams&oldid=1138714619, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 05:24. Well, I dont know if it made me stronger or not, sir, but it got my attention real good, I know. The couple wed in 2012. Brown allegedly told a reporter she was Lewis' wife, and Lewis claimed Brown was 15 years old and had been his wife for two months. [17] Brown was paid $100,000 for her story, but was resentful that she was not consulted for the script or casting of the film despite being promised. When Jaren was suing Jerry for divorce she tragically died in a friends swimming pool in 1982. Brown's age and blood relationship to Lewis caused an uproar on his first tour of England and was later criticized by anti-rock and roll preachers. 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). What happened to the duck? He was driving and listening to the story too. However, the two the face of it created peace later. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. 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. 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. Lewis and Myra were divorced in 1970. She was crying as she moved down the hall. ", "Its a sad time for the music business and the world," the 78-year-old told Fox News Digital. American rock 'n' roll musician (19352022), Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, but light rain makes brief return, AccuWeather: Clouds and wind into Saturday AM. There was no getting around it. When they stepped off the plane on May 22, 1958, Lewis obligingly told the British press that Myra was his wife (although he gave her age as 15 and moved up the date of their actual wedding). When Jerry married his first cousin once removed,Myra, the former couple welcomed two adorable kids together. I guess I went through like a trial by fire. 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. She was also his third wife.. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Dawn Staley thinks so, Why do we have daylight saving time? His fourth marriage was to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, which lasted from 1958 to 1970. She said "I do" once more to Richard Williams in 1984, and they have been together ever since. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 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. "[4][10] Their divorce was finalized on December 9, 1970. She was crying as she moved down the hall and knocked at the door with the iron bars. That Time Jerry Lee Lewis Married Myra Gale Brown, His 13-Year-Old Cousin. Lewis didn't seem to realize that this was offensive to most urban markets (and to other countries). You come out of the fire you make it. 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. Their daughter, Lori, was their only child that they had together. 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?" I find living is nice and calm this way.". ", a 1989 biopic of the famous rock 'n' roll musician. But that career hit a sharp nosedive in 1958, when. The press in both London and Memphis soon discovered the truth about Myra's age and the date of their wedding, and the response was immediate. Lets check, How Rich is C, All You Need To Know About Tamara Hurwitz. "If you think you know [my] story of being the 13 year old bride of my second cousin, you're in for a surprise," she teased. Myra Gale Brown. 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.". 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? I think this book will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone, and touch your soul. ", She continued: "If you say to me now, 'Theres a 13-year-old girl over here who wants to get married,'I would say 'God, please do not do that, little girl. Tragically, Steve drowned in a pool in 1962 when he was three years old. [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. I tried to ignore the reporter, but he kept insisting. When fans learned of this while Lewis was on tour overseas in 1958, it exploded into a . But its done and we might as well just live with it. Daddy backed down and said, Well, lets see what happens then. He couldnt change it. When Jerry marriedJaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate in 1971, the two later welcomed his second daughter, Lori Lee Lewis, in 1972. On May 17, 2022, he shared a group photo with his dad and family. ", Jerry Lee Lewis pictured with his daughter Phoebe at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, West London. I hope my story helps you handle your own ups and downs. That is when the world learned of their shocking marriage. After they divorced, Brown worked as a receptionist to support her daughter as a single parent. My 1988 book and the resulting movie, Great Balls of Fire, were just the beginning. "I was more of the adult than Jerry was. Myra gale brown Stock Photos and Images. More than a long time coming and more than well deserved. Nesbit, MS (25 miles south of Memphis) At the age of twenty-one, Jerry Lee Lewis "The Killer" arrived in Memphis, Tennessee in 1956. 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. Stinky! ", Rock n roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis passed away on Friday at age 87. Jerry Lee Lewis III, 35, was born in 1987, about three years after Jerry and Kerrie tied the knot. Thats what I yearned for more than anything else. Myra Lewis Williams, or Myra Gale Brown has been open about her experience as a child bride to Jerry Lee Lewis. Brown, who is known today as an author, is Lewis' first cousin once removed. However, upon landing in the country with his child-bride, it became clear that the Brits were not on board with Jerry Lee Lewis. Small world. 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. And he brought his marriage license home to me for us to get married. The challenges, however, brought them closer together, with Williams describing their following years together as"the happiest years of our marriage. While promoting the book, she took to Instagram to air some of the sordid details. Who are you? I said, Im not anybody. But he insisted. 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. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Below is everything to know about the late singers kids! However, Phillips managed to calm the furious patriarch down. The marriage lasted a year and a half. What does it mean? Everything We Know So Far. [9], By 1970, Lewis' drug addiction, alcoholism, and infidelity took a toll on their marriage. I stopped in the middle of my reading to sip my Coca-Cola because I was so thirsty. Myra Gale Browns height is unknown & weight Not Available right. Who are you? And I said, Oh, Im Jerrys wife. I may as well drop the bomb in the middle of London Town.". "Jerry Lee Lewis may be a lot of things, but hes not a simple cartoon. And he was going everywhere going, Are you my mother? This poor little duck was just desperate. Go to college, get an education, then figure it out.' The radio stations that didnt play it hated it. He proclaimed himself for ever a rock'n'roller, through his remaining decades of turmoil, lurid tragedy and . Jerry Lee Lewis plays the piano for his 13-year-old bride at the Cafe de Paree. It was a marriage license. Myra Lewis Williams was approached by a reporter in London during the middle of her husband's tour. In 2017, the talented musician sued his daughter for allegedly giving him drugs, according toTMZ. Hulton Arcive/Getty ImagesJerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown shortly after their wedding in December 1957. (Photo by Zak Hussein - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images). The couple owns a real estate company in Atlanta. Jerry Lee Lewis, 23, married Myra Gale Brown in 1957. Browse 8 myra gale brown stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Myra Gale Brown (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. Listen to Mamamia's daily entertainment podcast, The Spill. After Lewis' second device was finalized, he tied the knot with Myra Gale Brown. 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", 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. Myra Gale Brown today known as Myra Lewis William, was an American author. Lewis went on to marry four more times. Thats what this book basically is, this is what happened, this is how I handled it and here I am today, she said. [19], Since 1980, Brown has enjoyed success as a real estate agent in Atlanta. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). Hollywood Life, Latest Hollywood Celebrity & Entertainment News. 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. Its noon, and the lobby of the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel is swarming with the ladies-who-lunch set. She described the memoir as her story "of how to overcome life's worst tragedies and your own dumbass decisions.". If anybody had told me anything, I could have prevented this thing. In 2016, when William was 78 years old, shes been right here the whole time but she no longer had a relationship with her notorious ex-husband since 2015. Lewis with Myra Gale Brown. . Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix Earlier in London, Myra, who was 13 years old and Lewis's third cousin, revealed their secret marriage. "Its not a story that ever went away. Life and career Earthy colored was brought into the world on July 11, 1944, in Winnsboro, Louisiana, the girl of Lois and Jay "J.W." Brown. The American press proved just as harsh as their English counterparts, and Jerry Lee's fee for personal appearances soon dropped from $10,000 a night to $250. "Sometimes I say something about Jerry and people say, 'Isnt he the one married the little girl?' I looked at him and I said, Jerry, are you crazy? There was never a big argument about it it was just a resolve. I not only survived it, Im better for it, having gone through it. Katie Serena is a New York City-based writer and a staff writer at All That's Interesting. She has a career in real estate in Georgia since 1980 (under the name Myra Williams or Myra Lewis Williams). In an Instagram post from 2015, Williams discussed her relationship with Lewis after . Lewis tour was canceled. He married a 13-year-old, Myra Gale Brown, who later said she was "subject to every type of physical and mental abuse imaginable." He shot his bass player, was a serial adulterer, abused drugs . 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. In 2004, divorce proceedings began against his sixth wife, Kerrie McCarver, whom he married in 1984. 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. She also described herself as the adult in the relationship with Lewis. Brown, who celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on Monday, with their daughter, Myra, in the late 1940s or early 1950s. (Indeed, Lewis had moved in with Myra's parents when he married her.) American rock musician Jerry Lee Lewis holds his second cousin and third wife Myra Brown in his lap at a press conference in the Westbury Hotel,. over an old photo of her and Lewis. Thats exactly what it was.. Lewis had been married twice before. 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.". 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. Lewis and his sixth wife, Kerrie McCarver, were married for 20 years and had a child. Jerry Lee Lewis pictured with his daughter Phoebe at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, West London. 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. 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.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Jerry Lee Lewis teenage bride speaks out: I was the adult and Jerry was the child, Jerry Lee Lewis, original wild man of rock n roll, dies at 87, The Tiny Spark That Survived : The Rock n Roll Life of Stars Child Bride, Review: Jerry Lee Lewis remains a musical firebrand at 83 during dynamic performance in Cerritos, A Knock on Rock Movies : How Great Balls of Fire, the latest failed rock bio, reduces Jerry Lee Lewis to Roger Rabbit, Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. After his divorce in 1983, he went on to marry Shawn Stephens but their relationship ended the same year. The last survivor of a generation that included fellow performers Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, died Friday morning at age 87. If you think you know [my] story of being the 13 year old bride of my second cousin, youre in for a surprise, she teased. The Associated Press contributed to this report. When Myra Williams looks back on her life her marriage to her cousin, singer Jerry Lee Lewis, in 1957 when she was just 13 years old, their good and bad times together, the two children they. I dont know. (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. Lewis married once more to Jaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate the following year. It was during that year that the pianist embarked on a tour in England. Here is a closer look at his family! John Doe as J. W. Brown Actor/musician John Doe took on the role of J. W. Brown, the father of Myra Gale Brown and the first cousin (and later father-in-law) of Jerry Lee Lewis. But it didnt delve deep enough into exploring Lewis indomitable character. Second, she was his cousin, and the daughter of his bassist J.W. What I wanted was a baby in my arms, a home, a husband, a kitchen to cook in, a yard to raise roses. I guess I went through like a trial by fire. It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myra's younger brother. local news and culture, David Accomazzo Indeed, it was. The proud dad welcomed his first son,Jerry Lee Lewis Jr., in 1953. 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. A lot of ink has been spilled about his close blood relationship with Myra, and the fact that she was only 13 and still believed in Santa Claus when the pair were married. During his 87 years of life Jerry welcomed six kids into his life. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 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. [1] The Browns later had a son, Rusty Brown (b. This is the book I wanted to write then. "I said, OK, sure. So we got in the car and he drove straight to the preacher that married us. ", Jerry Lee Lewis plays the piano for his 13-year-old bride at the Cafe de Paree. I was like a deer caught in headlights. Shortly after his marriage to Judith Brown in 2012, Lewis fired his daughter Phoebe as his manager and took . According to Williams, her relationship with Lewis also gave criticsof rock 'n' roll more leverage to attack the genre. "We kept thinking every year, every six months, that it was going to go away, theyre going to stop talking about it, and it just didnt happen. Despite Elvis success, Brown felt that the world just wasnt ready for rock and roll. 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. Hes no longer part of my life. 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. Jerry Lee Lewis : They just want to see the new king of rock 'n 'roll. Myra Gale Brown (born July 11, 1944) is the cousin and former wife of singer Jerry Lee Lewis. Before he knew it, his ticket prices had dropped astronomically, from $10,000 a night to a mere $250. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myras younger brother. [1] They went on to make rock and roll history, recording hit singles on Sun Records.