Myra Gale Brown today known as Myra Lewis William, was an American author. He later played electric bass and piano in a band with his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis. Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown shortly after their wedding in December 1957. ADVERTISEMENT But it brought me and Jerry very close, and we had ten incredible, wonderful years together after that. Lewis shocked Hollywood when news broke that he wed his second cousin Myra Gale Brown in 1958. However, Williams said she wants to look back at the happier times they had. I think this book will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone, and touch your soul. 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! Lewis Fired, Then Sued His Daughter. People didn't know it at the time that they wed, but although she was listed as a 20-year-old, legally Brown was actually only 13 (via Biography). Williams conjointly lined their wedding with the 1982 book nice Balls of the fireplace, custom-made into a 1989 film prima Dennis Quaid as Lewis and Winona Ryder as Williams. [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. Myra Gale Brown (11 de julio de 1944) es la sobrina segunda y exesposa del cantante Jerry Lee Lewis.. Biografa. 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.. Brown played electric bass, and Lewis played piano and sang. (1989). I hope my story helps you handle your own ups and downs. Now Im older and wiser, and [not] malleable in the hands of others. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. However, the two the face of it created peace later. She described how Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records, urged Lewis to "get out of town" quickly. All rights reserved. Im right here! He continued to record music and perform in theater during that time and mounted a comeback about a decade later. 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, never one to change his mind, took her anyway. Did Arkansas women's basketball do enough to make March Madness? myra gale brown Photos. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Jerry later marriedShawn Stephensin 1983, but as she died due to an overdose, they did not have kids together. Shortly after his marriage to Judith Brown in 2012, Lewis fired his daughter Phoebe as his manager and took . 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. (She filed for divorce in 1970, citing allegations of abuse and adultery.). Copyright 2023 by Vizaca. 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. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The name may be derived from Miranda as it can be the shortened version the name Mira. 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. After her separation, Brown was momentarily hitched to the criminal investigator she had employed to trail Lewis and record his treacheries. Myra Lewis Williams has no hard feelings over the relationship and still blames the press for turning it into something wicked. The challenges, however, brought them closer together, with Williams describing their following years together as"the happiest years of our marriage. "He called me out to his car and showed me something. The revelation resulted in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis tour; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped overnight. 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. Rusty Brown is Myra Gale Brown's brother, O'Connor said. The couple wed in 2012. Ronnie was born in 1956, about three years into Jerry and Janes marriage. I guess I went through like a trial by fire. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. When they got back to Memphis, it had been found that Brown was the little girl of Lewis cousin and bass player, J.W. The marriage lasted a year and a half. I looked at him and I said, Jerry, are you crazy? He got the scoop and I let the cat out of the bag. Myra Brown was born on July 11, 1944, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and She was 78 years old as of 2022. Myra Lewis Williams, seen here with Jerry Lee Lewis during their marriage, has led a quiet life in Atlanta Georgia where she worked as a real estate agent. When J.W. Myra Lewis Williams told Fox News Digital her father was furious when he learned of the marriage. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. ELVIS PRESLEY'S FINAL MONTHS WERE PLAGUED WITH PHYSICAL PAIN AS HE EMBARKED ON GRUELING TOUR, AUTHOR CLAIMS, "I let the cat out of the bag," said Williams. Brown is a basketball player, and she used to be married to the brother of Lewis's third wife, Myra Gale Brown. 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? His bride, Myra Gale. 6:00AM. Lewis hadseven wives throughout his life, and Williams was his third. She later pursued a career in music and worked on the movie Benji: Off the Leash! After his divorce in 1983, he went on to marry Shawn Stephens but their relationship ended the same year. 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. Though he had gotten married again before his divorce was final, it also came out that his new wife was also his third cousin a 13-year-old named Myra Gale Brown. A little bit down. They had two children, Steve Allen Lewis (19591962), who drowned at age three, and daughter Phoebe Allen Lewis (b. Before he knew it, his ticket prices had dropped astronomically, from $10,000 a night to a mere $250. She filed on the grounds of adultery and abuse. At the time, Jerry was married toJane Mitchum, which was his second marriage after he split from his first wife,Dorothy Barton. He is currently married to his seventh wife, Judith Brown, who was once married to Lewis' cousin Rusty. 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. It turned out that she was a first-cousin once-removed and - shockingly - just 13 years old. Legal Statement. She later pursued a career in music and worked on the movie Benji: Off the Leash! I dont know. What was happening back then, rock n roll was coming on very, very strong. This was a one-night jam session at Sun Studios. [5] The scandal over the marriage destroyed Lewis' promising rock and roll career,[8] although he subsequently found success in country music. And so, the story was cooked up. All you could hear was Jerry going, Well?! "But I didnt know. I went out and found us a house. They called it the devils music. Market data provided by Factset. 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? Myra Lewis Williams, the former teenage bride of Jerry Lee Lewis, is mourning the loss of the rock n roll pioneer. Her Instagram account has been dormant since early 2016. That stir was nothing compared to the one his third marriage would cause, however. Their son passed away in 1962 at age 3 from drowning in a swimming pool. 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. She posed as me and signed the marriage license application. The backlash was swift and deserved. 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. independent local journalism in Phoenix. Getty Images. 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. Phoenix's independent source of "They were looking for a place to stick the knife into rock & roll," she said. However, it was discovered that she was only 13, and that they had been married for five months. Lewis was on his way to international rock and roll stardom when he married Brown . Dad, youre the greatest and I love you!, he captioned the snapshot. The radio stations that didnt play it hated it. "Jerry Lee Lewis may be a lot of things, but hes not a simple cartoon. 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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . But it didnt delve deep enough into exploring Lewis indomitable character. Katie Serena is a New York City-based writer and a staff writer at All That's Interesting. She is most popular for her union with rock n move performer Jerry Lee Lewis who is her subsequent cousin. 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. Sadly, Jerry II died in 1973 when he was only 19 years old, perThe Guardian. [4] After Lewis finalized his divorce from Mitcham, he remarried Brown on June 4, 1958. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. How long was Jerry Lee Lewis married to his cousin, in this case? Thats what this book basically is, this is what happened, this is how I handled it and here I am today, she said. "Sometimes I say something about Jerry and people say, 'Isnt he the one married the little girl?' 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. Alamy Stock Photo One of the most shocking scandals involving cradle-snatching rock stars was the marriage of the. Thats what I yearned for more than anything else. Prior to their divorce, the former couple welcomed two children, Phoebe and Steve. She was crying as she moved down the hall and knocked at the door with the iron bars. 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. I not only survived it, Im better for it, having gone through it. ", Myra Lewis Williams was approached by a reporter in London during the middle of her husband's tour. Jerry Lee Lewis plays the piano for his 13-year-old bride at the Cafe de Paree. Myra Gale Brown (born July 11, 1944) is the cousin and former wife of singer Jerry Lee Lewis. He also toldThe Guardianhow he copes with having lost a few of his kids and ex wives. "[4][10] Their divorce was finalized on December 9, 1970. The couple owns a real estate company in Atlanta. They were looking for a place to stick the knife into rock & roll, she said. Remember, gossip is not gospel," Williams wrote on Instagram in 2015. Over the course of his life, he was married to seven different women, including Myra Gale Brown, 78, who was also Jerrys first cousin once removed. [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! And, Myra said later, she herself felt ready for marriage. But Lewis had a storied private life, and his career took a nosedive in the late 1950s, when he married Myra Gale Brown. American actor Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis and Winona Ryder as Myra Gale Brown in the film "Great Balls of Fire! 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, . Myra and Lewis were married for more than a decade and they had two children, Steve and Phoebe. Williams briefly remarried to Pete Malito from 1970 to 1972. This time there are no holds barred. What happened to the duck? He was driving and listening to the story too. Im stronger and appreciate different things in life that a lot of people take for granted. Earthy colored has a more youthful sibling, Rusty Brown (b. It was with his sixth wife,Kerrie McCarver, that the Grammy-winner welcomed his final child with. She married her third husband, Richard Williams, in 1984, and joined his Century 21 office. I dropped the bomb. Rock n roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis passed away on Friday at age 87. It was adapted into the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire!, starring Dennis Quaid as Lewis and Winona Ryder as Brown. Stinky! "We dont know, maybe this couple loves each other. Myra Lewis Williams, or Myra Gale Brown has been open about her experience as a child bride to Jerry Lee Lewis. The proud dad welcomed his first son,Jerry Lee Lewis Jr., in 1953. "I said, OK, sure. So we got in the car and he drove straight to the preacher that married us. Jerry and everybody else was being interviewed and I just stood in the lobby where they were going to play. In 1970, Brown petitioned for legal separation on the grounds of infidelity and misuse; charging that she had been subject to each kind of physical and mental maltreatment possible. Their separation was settled on December 9, 1970. That is when the world learned of their shocking marriage. In 1971, Lewis tied the knot with Jaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate but the two decided to end their marriage in 1982. In 1956, Lewis moved in with J.W. The book propelled the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire!, featuring Dennis Quaid as Lewis and Winona Ryder as Brown. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Below is everything to know about the late singers kids! If I can survive life's worst tragedies and my own dumb-ass decisions, you can, too. "And thats how we got married," she chuckled. [15][19][11], She is shown being interviewed in the Ethan Coen directed 2022 documentary film Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind. 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. During his 87 years of life Jerry welcomed six kids into his life. Second, she was his cousin, and the daughter of his bassist J.W. [1] The Browns later had a son, Rusty Brown (b. The press made me out to be a seductive Lolita, which was as far from the truth as it gets. [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 (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). In America, he told them, it was quite all right to marry at age 15, even at 10, provided you could find a husband. Im really glad I didnt though because its gotten better as Ive gotten older.. She co-wrote many books, such as Great Book Of Fire and The Spark That Survived, and earned peoples love and popularity through her book. Earthy colored. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Elvis Presley, the biggest rock star in the world, was dating a 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who would later become his wife. I guess I went through like a trial by fire. She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows. 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.. 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.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! Browns daughter,' she said, looking back on the day it was revealed she was 13 and Jerry Lee Lewis spouse. . Trent Reznor Explains Scalping Controversy, Chow Down on Your Thanksgiving Dinner Playlist, Best Phoenix Concerts This Week: Blu DeTiger, The 1975, Phunk Junkeez, Phoenixs Best Weekend Concerts: Smashing Pumpkins, Janes Addiction, Descendents, The Undefinable Sound of Holy Fawn Blasts Off From Phoenix to a New Dimension, Voters Retain Controversial Maricopa County Judge Who Ruled Against Tempes Shady Park. Im really glad I didnt though because its gotten better as Ive gotten older.. The Ferriday, LA native moved in with his cousin J.W. I just dont know which ones theyd be.". On October 22, 2022, Friday, famous singer 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. When Jerry married his first cousin once removed,Myra, the former couple welcomed two adorable kids together. 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. Earthy colored was brought into the world on July 11, 1944, in Winnsboro, Louisiana, the girl of Lois and Jay J.W. Brown. From left: Musicians Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash as "The Million Dollar Quartet" on Dec. 4, 1956, in Memphis, Tennessee. Im stronger and appreciate different things in life that a lot of people take for granted. But that career hit a sharp nosedive in 1958,. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images), Williams said it was "ridiculous" to be referred to as a "child bride" because she "did not feel like one. Their daughter, Lori, was their only child that they had together. 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. The marriage eventually came to an end in 1970, when Williams divorced Lewis. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images). . 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While promoting the book, she took to Instagram to air some of the sordid details. In an Instagram post from 2015, Williams discussed her relationship with Lewis after . Hes no longer part of my life. Legal Statement. 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. Hollywood Life [14] The producers did not want Brown or Lewis involved with the film, but she visited the Memphis set anyway. She dwells in Duluth, Georgia with her better half Richard Williams. He tied the knot with his seventh wife, Judith Brown, on March 9, 2012. (1989). [20] Now known as Myra Lewis Williams, she resides in Duluth, Georgia with her husband; they own a real estate company. 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. . (Photo by Zak Hussein - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images). . It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myra's younger brother. Lewis was poised to replace Presley as rock n roll's new hit-maker. [1] They went on to make rock and roll history, recording hit singles on Sun Records. (Photo by Tom Baffer/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images). 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. Lewis reinvented himself as a country performer. ", 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. The England tour was supposed to establish a British fan base that would, hopefully, lead to a worldwide audience. She co-wrote many books, such as Great Book Of Fire and The Spark That Survived, and earned people's love and popularity through her book. Myra Lewis Williams, seen here with Jerry Lee Lewis during their marriage, has led a quiet life in Atlanta Georgia where she worked as a real estate agent. "I'm right here! 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.