The couple owns a real estate company in Atlanta. Lewis went on to marry four more times. Myra Lewis Williams was approached by a reporter in London during the middle of her husband's tour. At the time, she hadn't realized that there was anything wrong with her relationship with Lewis. The marriage eventually came to an end in 1970, when Williams divorced Lewis. Brown's family in the Coro Lake neighborhood in south Memphis. What happened to the duck? He was driving and listening to the story too. Everything We Know So Far. Along with Murray Silver, Brown composed an account of Lewis, Great Balls of Fire: The Uncensored Story of Jerry Lee Lewis. Market data provided by Factset. Join the New Times community and help support And he was going everywhere going, Are you my mother? This poor little duck was just desperate. 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. 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. "Sometimes I say something about Jerry and people say, 'Isnt he the one married the little girl?' Im right here! Myra Gale Brown (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. 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. 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. Hulton Arcive/Getty ImagesJerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown shortly after their wedding in December 1957. 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, 23, married Myra Gale Brown in 1957. It was crude and rude and ridiculous what it was doing to the teenagers. Rusty Brown is Myra Gale Brown's brother, O'Connor said. 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. Myra Gale Lewis Williams (ne Brown; born July 11, 1944) is an American author, best known for her controversial marriage at the age of 13 to rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis, who was her first cousin once removed and was 22 at the time. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Thats what this book basically is, this is what happened, this is how I handled it and here I am today, she said. 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). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Now Im older and wiser, and [not] malleable in the hands of others. Elvis Presley, the biggest rock star in the world, was dating a 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who would later become his wife. " The tour in London was booked. ", Jerry Lee Lewis plays the piano for his 13-year-old bride at the Cafe de Paree. Since 1980, Brown has enjoyed success as a real estate agent in Atlanta. It was crude and rude and ridiculous what it was doing to the teenagers. My daddy will kill you. And he said, Oh no, he wont. With five of his ex-wives, the Great Balls of Fire singer fathered six children. View all photos from this album. Lewis was 23 at the time of his wedding to his 13-year-old cousin. When fans learned of this while Lewis was on tour overseas in 1958, it exploded into a . Let's, Utz Chwalla estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. However, while Lewis toured in England, the press not only learned of the controversial marriage to Williams, but that the star was still married to his previous wife. He sought out his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, who was also an unknown musician at the time. Sadly, Steven tragically died in 1962 when he suffered from a drowning accident. (1989). Lewis was on his way to international rock and roll stardom when he married Brown . 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. But that career hit a sharp nosedive in 1958, when. In the end, she says, Jerry Lee Lewis downfall was a bigger issue than her age. . Would Williams do it all over again if she could? She dwells in Duluth, Georgia with her better half Richard Williams. Myra Gale Brown estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. With a new memoir, The Spark That Survived, she wrote at the time, sharing an image emblazoned with Whatever happened to Myra? over an old photo of her and Lewis. 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. Browse 82 myra brown stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Her Instagram account has been dormant since early 2016. He just took off. Sadly, Jerry II died in 1973 when he was only 19 years old, perThe Guardian. 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. 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. At the time, she hadnt realized that there was anything wrong with her relationship with Lewis. About to depart for the Army, Elvis himself who would soon fall in love with a 14-year-old girl told reporters that if they were in love with each other, it was all right with him. I find living is nice and calm this way.. He continued to record music and perform in theater during that time and mounted a comeback about a decade later. The youngest Lewis son is active on Instagram and the video live streaming service, Twitch. Getty Images. [4] By the time they returned to Memphis, it had been discovered that Brown was not only Lewis' wife, she was also his first cousin once removed. Lois (left) and J.W. This time there are no holds barred. More than one paper went so far as to suggest his deportation. ", 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. 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. Jerry Lee Lewis had already gone through two marriages by 1957; he'd married Jane Mitcham, his second wife, 23 days before his divorce from his first wife, Dorothy Barton, was final. "Its the path not taken. 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. I think this book will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone, and touch your soul. ADVERTISEMENT Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Lewis Williams with their newborn son Steve Allen Lewis on Feb. 28, 1959, in Ferriday, Louisiana. It was a marriage license. And, Myra said later, she herself felt ready for marriage. As of Friday afternoon, Williams had not released a public statement about Lewis' death. Myra Gale Brown. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Myra Lewis Williams has no hard feelings over the relationship and still blames the press for turning it into something wicked. They were divorced in 2004, according to Spinner.com. This was a one-night jam session at Sun Studios. 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.. The singer married his first wife, Dorothy Barton, when he was just 16. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThirteen year old Myra Gale Brown sitting on Jerry Lee Lewis lap. Myra se cas el 12 de diciembre de 1957, a la edad de 13, mientras que Lewis an estaba casado legalmente con su anterior esposa.La edad de Myra y su relacin de sangre con Lewis caus una conmocin en su primera gira por Inglaterra y ms tarde fue la causa de su fracaso en . 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. For a man from his time and place, however, marrying at 13 and marrying one's third cousin (twice removed) were both fairly commonplace, although Lewis further complicated matters by again marrying before the divorce from his second wife was final. Longtime Gwinnett resident Myra Lewis Williams has penned a new memoir sharing her life story, including her teenage marriage with her second cousin rock n' roll star Jerry Lee Lewis. Thats what I yearned for more than anything else. 1963). "We dont know, maybe this couple loves each other. Williams briefly remarried to Pete Malito from 1970 to 1972. Jerry Lee Lewis plays the piano for his 13-year-old bride at the Cafe de Paree. While promoting the book, she took to Instagram to air some of the sordid details. ", Williams also described howthe revelation of their marriage hurt Lewis' career, recalling how the musician's "fame and money went down to almost nothing." 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myra's younger brother. Jerry Lee Lewis could have been a transcendent pop superstar, but his momentum was derailed by an incestuous marriage. I dont know. Thank you everyone for never giving up!! But that career hit a sharp nosedive in 1958,. He also toldThe Guardianhow he copes with having lost a few of his kids and ex wives. Their daughter, Lori, was their only child that they had together. 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. I pray, and I think about the things I have now.. Photograph: George Little/Daily Mail/Rex/Shutterstock. Steven Allen Lewiswas born in 1959, when his then-wife was 14 years old. "'Great Balls of Fire' is the toonof rock movies, with Jerry Lee Lewis reduced on screen to Roger Rabbit," Times music critic Robert Hilburn wrote at the time. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Rusty Brown is Myra Gale Brown's brother, O'Connor said. Lewis stated that Brown was 15 years of age and was his better half of two months; in any case, it was found that she was just 13, and that they had been hitched for almost five months. The England tour was supposed to establish a British fan base that would, hopefully, lead to a worldwide audience. Lewis shocked Hollywood when news broke that he wed his second cousin Myra Gale Brown in 1958. That is when the world learned of their shocking marriage. Im still the 13-year-old child bride," Williams, who became a real-estate broker in Atlanta, said. My little brother was born because I begged my parents for a baby at ten years old.. He continued to record music and perform in theater during that time and mounted a comeback about a decade later. ", Myra Lewis Williams was approached by a reporter in London during the middle of her husband's tour. 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 Zak Hussein - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images). She co-wrote the book Great Balls of Fire: The Uncensored Story of Jerry Lee Lewis (1982), which was adapted into the film Great Balls of Fire! "And thats how we got married," she chuckled. However, the two the face of it created peace later. There were plenty of ups and downs in her marriage to Lewis. 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. According to Williams, her relationship with Lewis also gave criticsof rock 'n' roll more leverage to attack the genre. The couple welcomed two children, a son named Steve Allen Lewis in 1959 and a daughter named Phoebe Lewis in 1963. The couple had two kids, Steve Allen Lewis (19591962) who suffocated at age three, and girl Phoebe Allen Lewis (b. "Jay" Brown. Myra Gale Brown (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. I dont like that, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, The Weeknd is getting mocked for his response to Rolling Stones The Idol expos, Daisy Jones & the Six review: Riley Keough fronts a rock soap opera, Aaron Carters mom posts awful photos from death scene, pushes for homicide inquiry, Wayne Shorter, influential jazz saxophonist and composer, dies at 89, Travis Scott is sought by New York Police after alleged assault and criminal mischief. [21], Last edited on 11 February 2023, at 05:24, "Loganville couple celebrates 75 years of marriage, music and memories", "JERRY LEE LEWIS, ROCK, STOCK AND BARREL", "The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis", "Jerry Lee Lewis's short-lived music success", "Jerry Lee Lewis Online Wild One's Clubhouse: The Largest Jerry Lee Lewis Homepage on the Internet! from $6.99 1 New from $6.99 Details the love affair between singer Jerry Lee Lewis and his thirteen-year-old cousin, Myra Brown, and the scandal that resulted from their marriage in 1957 Print length 373 pages Language English Publisher St Martins Pr Publication date January 1, 1989 ISBN-10 0312916418 ISBN-13 978-0312916411 See all details All rights reserved. [5] This caused an uproar and after a few dates the tour was cancelled. [20] Now known as Myra Lewis Williams, she resides in Duluth, Georgia with her husband; they own a real estate company. or redistributed. And Jerry gave it to themwell, I did, I opened my mouth. The revelation resulted in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis tour; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped overnight. There was no getting around it. Moreover, Lewis had not at this point separated from his past spouse, Jane Mitcham. Below is everything to know about the late singers kids! Market data provided by Factset. Getty Images. To Jerry Lee, the uproar was hard to understand: "I plumb married the girl, didn't I?" The book propelled the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire!, featuring Dennis Quaid as Lewis and Winona Ryder as Brown. Myra Gale Brown today known as Myra Lewis William, was an American author. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images). What does it mean? Is Sex/Life Season 3 Happening? Jerry Lee Lewis married his second cousin Myra Gale Brown when she was just 13. Here is a closer look at his family! I find living is nice and calm this way.". 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. But it was a different world, things have changed so drastically. Jerry died on Oct. 28, 2022, at the age of 87 years old. (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. Inside The Short And Tumultuous Life Of Gia Carangi, "The World's First Supermodel", 44 Grim Photos That Show The Brutal Reality Of Mid-Century America's Polio Epidemics, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Phoebe is from his third marriage to Myra Gale Brown. 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. We were like a little camp that had been attacked by the enemy, and we held strong to each other and said, regardless of what they do, were going to keep fighting.". However, Phillips managed to calm the furious patriarch down. Vizaca.com participates in many affiliate marketing programs & sponsored content which means we get paid commissions on products purchased through our links to retail websites. (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.). 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. She is as of now a realtor in Atlanta, Georgia. Copyright 2023 by Vizaca. Remember, gossip is not gospel," Williams wrote on Instagram in 2015. 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. She later pursued a career in music and worked on the movie Benji: Off the Leash! 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. When J.W. The backlash was swift. Jane is also the mother to Jerrys second-born son,Ronnie Guy Lewis, 66. I dropped the bomb. 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. Jerry Lee Lewis, left, poses with Myra Gale Brown at a London press conference on May 24, 1958. So whatever happened to her? Williams has also written two books about her life, including 2016s "The Sparked That Survived. Famous People Who Married Their Cousins. 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.". The backlash was swift and deserved. Despite Elvis success, Brown felt that the world just wasnt ready for rock and roll. A year later, the late singer found love again and married Myra Gale Brown and they stayed married until 1970. When Jerry marriedJaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate in 1971, the two later welcomed his second daughter, Lori Lee Lewis, in 1972. When Jerry married his first cousin once removed,Myra, the former couple welcomed two adorable kids together. I just dont know which ones theyd be.". JOHNNY CASHS SON, JOHN CARTER CASH, RECALLS LATE SINGERS DEEP DEVOTION TO FAITH: HIS GREATEST LEGACY, Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Lewis Williams with their newborn son Steve Allen Lewis on Feb. 28, 1959, in Ferriday, Louisiana. They called it the devils music. Their story was previously chronicled in the 1989 film "Great Balls of Fire" starring Dennis Quaid as the performer and Winona Ryder as the former Myra Gale Brown. I hope my story helps you handle your own ups and downs. She described the memoir as her story of how to overcome lifes worst tragedies and your own dumbass decisions.. What's More, when Lewis' plane landed in New York, he found the scandal had crossed the ocean with him, cutting short a career that, at its peak, had seemed the only one capable of rivaling Elvis Presley's. She filed on the grounds of adultery and abuse. 3. Lewis Fired, Then Sued His Daughter. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. We did it fam!! The 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees are Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Eminem and more. She also described Lewis drug addiction, being the victim of abuse, divorcing and jumping into a rebound marriage, the Gwinnett Daily Post said. She also described herself as the adult in the relationship with Lewis. That memory will never not be funny to me.". Lewis was 22. And he brought his marriage license home to me for us to get married. 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 revelation resulted in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis' tour; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped overnight. After Lewis concluded his separation from Mitcham, he remarried Brown on June 4, 1958. After several tour dates were canceled, Jerry and his new bride left the country. Phoebe worked for him and when I visited her I would still see him, too. Little did they know what it was going to turn into.. Browns daughter,' she said, looking back on the day it was revealed she was 13 and Jerry Lee Lewis spouse. 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.. This is the book I wanted to write then. Jerry Lee Lewis : They just want to see the new king of rock 'n 'roll. myra gale brown Photos. 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. [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. Myra Gale Brown : I don't know how to be a wife. Many fans grieved after knowing their rock n roll star died, and they sent their prayers and condolence toward him. Their fans were heartbroken when they knew they parted ways after an extended period, and it was Lewis, not their first marriage; he had already been married 2,3 times previously. His managers had warned him about the British press and their delight in tearing down American superstars, but Lewis hadnt listened. Related: Katie Serena is a New York City-based writer and a staff writer at All That's Interesting. Williams said her father marched down to Sun Records ready to confront Lewis. The exes remained cordial over the years because of the bond they shared with their daughter. Copyright 2023 by Vizaca. I mean, he was ready to kill. 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. She has been in news due to the death of her husband, on October 28, 2022. Lewis in the long run discovered achievement in down-home music. After just a few shows in England, the tour was canceled. Lewis with Myra Gale Brown. Myra Lewis was born on July 11, 1944 in the USA as Myra Gale Brown. Brown was injured on the job, he decided to start a band. "Jerry Lee Lewis may be a lot of things, but hes not a simple cartoon. His bride, Myra Gale Brown, was also thrust into the spotlight, and years later discussed how she "never lost the first name '13-year-old-child-bride-Myra.'" Myra Lewis Williams, .