"My 1988 book and the resulting movie, Great Balls of Fire, were just the beginning. 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. Brown, who celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on Monday, with their daughter, Myra, in the late 1940s or early 1950s. He continued to record music and perform in theater during that time and mounted a comeback about a decade later. Myra and Jerry's daughter, Phoebe Lewis, 59, was born in 1963, about four years after Steven was born. "Theyve lost a great entertainer, a very talented man. [19], Since 1980, Brown has enjoyed success as a real estate agent in Atlanta. In America, he told them, it was quite all right to marry at age 15, even at 10, provided you could find a husband. Jerry Lee Lewis, Rock Music Pioneer, Dead at 87 They called it the devils music. Great Balls of Fire: The Uncensored Story of Jerry Lee Lewis After they divorced, Brown worked as a receptionist to support her daughter as a single parent. 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. Red flag warning issued for large portion of Florida. Stinky! 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. Now Im older and wiser, and [not] malleable in the hands of others. 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. 1963) who later turned into her dads supervisor and inhabited his farm in Nesbit, Mississippi until he wedded Judith Brown, the ex of Browns sibling Rusty Brown, in 2012. in 2004.. A year later, the late singer found love again and married Myra Gale Brown and they stayed married until 1970. 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. Despite Elvis success, Brown felt that the world just wasnt ready for rock and roll. The 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees are Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Eminem and more. 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.". ", 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. "Sometimes I say something about Jerry and people say, 'Isnt he the one married the little girl?' The proud dad welcomed his first son,Jerry Lee Lewis Jr., in 1953. And he brought his marriage license home to me for us to get married. Join the New Times community and help support Because we have a daughter, Jerry and I remained in contact for many years, she wrote. 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.. They took it and ran. Jerry died on Oct. 28, 2022, at the age of 87 years old. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Did Jerry Lee Lewis marry his niece? She later pursued a career in music and worked on the movie Benji: Off the Leash! [4] Lewis asserted that Brown was 15 years old and was his wife of two months. [14] Although Brown found the actors to be talented and friendly, she was not satisfied with the book or the film. It was really the first scandal of rock n roll, Williams told Georgias Gwinnett Daily Post in 2016. While promoting the book, she took to Instagram to air some of the sordid details. Myra and Jerry Lewiss marriage was considered the most controversial marriage in history. Jerry later marriedShawn Stephensin 1983, but as she died due to an overdose, they did not have kids together. On December 12, 1957, he married Myra Gale Brown, 13, his first cousin who had been removed. (She filed for divorce in 1970, citing allegations of abuse and adultery.). Myra Lewis was born on July 11, 1944 in the USA as Myra Gale Brown. After her separation, Brown was momentarily hitched to the criminal investigator she had employed to trail Lewis and record his treacheries. (She filed for divorce in 1970, citing allegations of abuse and adultery.). 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Myra Gale was 13 years old when she married to 22 years old Jerry Lee Lewis in 1958. She has been in news due to the death of her husband, on October 28, 2022. Lewis was 22. Alamy Stock Photo One of the most shocking scandals involving cradle-snatching rock stars was the marriage of the. They were divorced in 2004, according to Spinner.com. Myra Gale Brown (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. .Once Mary Gale Brown and Lew divorced in 1970, Williams same she had been subject to each sort of physical and mental abuse possible,. Lewis was 23 at the time of his wedding to his 13-year-old cousin. Thats how the career took a gigantic nose dive when we arrived in London. I buried my own. She filed on the grounds of adultery and abuse. [1] They went on to make rock and roll history, recording hit singles on Sun Records. Legal Statement. Myra Lewis Williams has no hard feelings over the relationship and still blames the press for turning it into something wicked. Myra Brown, of Andover Community Care, talks about the organization's efforts to help raise money for those in need. 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. Is Sex/Life Season 3 Happening? My little brother was born because I begged my parents for a baby at ten years old.. a little baby sittin' in a high chair. Lewis didn't seem to realize that this was offensive to most urban markets (and to other countries). But it brought me and Jerry very close, and we had ten incredible, wonderful years together after that. 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). The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis Last updated on Feb 15, 2015, 12.09. I went out and found us a house. But when he and his entourage landed in London, the press was eager to . Jerry Lee Lewis: 'I worry about whether I'm going to heaven or hell' But it didn't delve deep enough into exploring Lewis' indomitable character. Lewis tour was canceled. I not only survived it, Im better for it, having gone through it. "And most of the time, people have no idea who I was! 1963). Ballad of the 13-Year-Old Bride. Myra Lewis Williams - Medium In 1958, when Elvis Presley was drafted into the military . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Earthy colored wedded Lewis in Hernando, Mississippi on December 12, 1957, at 13 years old. Jerry Lee Lewis dies at 87: What Myra Williams, his 13-year-old wife Second, she was his cousin, and the daughter of his bassist J.W. Lewis Fired, Then Sued His Daughter. Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown shortly after their wedding in December 1957. She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows. She has a career in real estate in Georgia since 1980 (under the name Myra Williams or Myra Lewis Williams). Jerry Lee Lewis' former teen bride reflects on the star's death, their Full body measurements, dress & shoe size will be updated soon. The England tour was supposed to establish a British fan base that would, hopefully, lead to a worldwide audience. 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. You come out of the fire you make it. 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. "Phoebe worked for him and when I visited her I would still see him, too. 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. ", "I was the adult in the room and Jerry was the silly child," she said. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. They called it the devils music. She said "I do" once more to Richard Williams in 1984, and they have been together ever since. But they didnt, and I didnt, and the rest is history, I guess.. This created a scene and after a couple of dates, the visit was dropped. Jerry was quoted as saying to one reporter. My 1988 book and the resulting movie, Great Balls of Fire, were just the beginning. (Photo by Zak Hussein - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images). Son of singer Jerry Lee Lewis & Myra Gail Lewis. Jerry Lee Lewis marriage to his 13-year-old cousin in 1957 nearly ended his career. Indeed, it was. 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. Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter, Allison Holker Snuggles Up To Kids Maddox, 7, & Zaia, 3, Nearly 3 Months After Twitchs Tragic Death, Ariana Madix Hangs With Pal Kristen Doute Amid Tom Sandoval & Raquel Leviss Cheating Drama, Tom Sizemore Dead: Acclaimed Actor Dies At 61 After Brain Aneurysm, Is Sex/Life Season 3 Happening? I dropped the bomb. Dad, youre the greatest and I love you!, he captioned the snapshot. Brown's family in the Coro Lake neighborhood in south Memphis. Post continues below. Brown is a basketball player, and she used to be married to the brother of Lewis's third wife, Myra Gale Brown. Myra Gale Brown (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. "In my little mind, I couldnt believe that they could not see that I was a grown woman," she said. 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. Is Jerry Lee Lewis' Controversial Wife And Cousin Myra Gale Brown Still It was really the first scandal of rock n roll, Williams told Georgia's Gwinnett Daily Post in 2016. 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. '", 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. Rock n roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis passed away on Friday at age 87. He outlived Elvis, but his career as a rock star was forever crippled by the scandal. Lewis married once more to Jaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate the following year. 13 Celebrities Who Married Relatives, From Charles Darwin to - TheWrap Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis It was here where Lewis met Brown's daughter, Myra Gale Brown, while on . 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. Jerry Lee Lewis death updates Rock n roll icon died of 'natural This time there are no holds barred. (Getty Images). 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. 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. He convinced disc jockeys to give him a second chance, and the music industry eventually forgave him. Lewis had previously married twice. The Killer was there within seconds. 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. In the end, she says, Jerry Lee Lewis downfall was a bigger issue than her age. Sadly, Jerry II died in 1973 when he was only 19 years old, perThe Guardian. I get down sometimes, the rock star shared. The rebellious Louisiana-born piano player known as "The Killer" made his mark with hits such as "Great Balls of Fire" and "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On. In 1970, Myra Gale Brown filed for divorce from Jerry Lee Lewis on the grounds of adultery and abuse. Lewis married Myra before his divorce from his second wife was final. They told Jerry not to take me Had I known, I could have pretended to be sick, do anything except go. The singer married his first wife, Dorothy Barton, when he was just 16. NBC. Jerry Lee Lewis and the Myra Brown Scandal - LiveAbout I was happy to think I would have a home and a husband and children. Legal Statement. Myra Lewis Williams - Wikipedia I find living is nice and calm this way.". [5] She married her third husband, Richard Williams, in 1984, and joined his Century 21 Real Estate office. Williams and Lewis divorced in 1970. Lewis reinvented himself as a country performer. How Jerry Lee Lewis' career was ruined by his shocking marriage "He called me out to his car and showed me something. 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. Two of those unions ended in untimely deaths for the brides, and his fourth and final marriage came in 2012. In 1971, Lewis tied the knot with Jaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate but the two decided to end their marriage in 1982. It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myra's younger brother. [13], Shortly after her divorce, Brown married Pete Malito,[14] the detective she had hired to trail Lewis and document his infidelities,[15] and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. After Lewis' second device was finalized, he tied the knot with Myra Gale Brown. Thats what this book basically is, this is what happened, this is how I handled it and here I am today, she said. The radio stations that didnt play it hated it. I think this book will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone, and touch your soul. He also toldThe Guardianhow he copes with having lost a few of his kids and ex wives. All rights reserved. [5] The scandal over the marriage destroyed Lewis' promising rock and roll career,[8] although he subsequently found success in country music. local news and culture, David Accomazzo Did Jerry Lee Lewis marry his 13-year old cousin? Child bride claim She also described Lewis drug addiction, being the victim of abuse, divorcing and jumping into a rebound marriage, the Gwinnett Daily Post said. Vintage Pics of Jerry Lee Lewis With His New Wife Myra Gale Brown at myra gale brown Photos - The Times of India Photogallery Lewis was poised to replace Presley as rock n roll's new hit-maker. His managers had warned him about the British press and their delight in tearing down American superstars, but Lewis hadnt listened. On December 12, 1957, Lewis wed a woman named Myra Gale Brown (pictured above), who was also his cousin. If Myra doesnt go, he told them, Im not going.. (Photo by Tom Baffer/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images). More than one paper went so far as to suggest his deportation. All Rights Reserved. . . It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myras younger brother. Jerry Lee Lewis obituary | Pop and rock | The Guardian However, the two the face of it created peace later. The revelation resulted in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis' tour; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped overnight. Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown in 1958 | Bettmann via Getty Images Lewis was a rising star in rock and roll. Phoenix's independent source of Getty Images. Myra Gale Brown : Why won't they go away? American actor Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis and Winona Ryder as his underage wife Myra Gale Brown in the film 'Great Balls of Fire!', a biopic of. Myra Brown Interview - YouTube More than a long time coming and more than well deserved. She is incredibly refreshing to read.. The exes remained cordial over the years because of the bond they shared with their daughter. 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.. If anybody had told me anything, I could have prevented this thing. Myra Lewis Williams, or Myra Gale Brown has been open about her experience as a child bride to Jerry Lee Lewis. Earthy colored wasnt happy with the book or the film, so she delivered her journal, The Spark That Survived, with subtleties of her wild union with Lewis and the life after him. 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.