(Photo by Zak Hussein - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images). In 2016 she published her memoir, The Spark That Survived. When Jerry marriedJaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate in 1971, the two later welcomed his second daughter, Lori Lee Lewis, in 1972. It was here where Lewis met Brown's daughter, Myra Gale Brown, while on . (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images), "Thats the toughest question to answer because it would change everybodys life mine, his, our children," she said. I'm only 13. 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. What was happening back then, rock n roll was coming on very, very strong. . 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. And he was going everywhere going, Are you my mother? This poor little duck was just desperate. Infatuation with a child simply seemed to come with rock and roll territory. My little brother was born because I begged my parents for a baby at ten years old.. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix Williams and Lewis divorced in 1970. We did it fam!! After the two were married on December 12, 1957, Lewis planned to take Brown along on a tour of England. What was happening back then, rock n roll was coming on very, very strong. 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. Robert Fontenot Jr. is an entertainment critic and journalist focusing on classic rock and roll and published nationally for more than 25 years. Listen to Mamamia's daily entertainment podcast, The Spill. Hulton Arcive/Getty ImagesJerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown shortly after their wedding in December 1957. My daddy will kill you. And he said, Oh no, he wont. But that career hit a sharp nosedive in 1958,. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER, "He said, Now look, we cant see the future," she said. Everything We Know So Far. Myra Lewis Williams was approached by a reporter in London during the middle of her husband's tour. You come out of the fire you make it. Famous People Who Married Their Cousins. (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.). Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. Lewis was shunned . For her part, Williams said that she wasnt a fan of her first book and its movie adaptation because they were someone elses idea about how that part of her life story should be told, the Post said. Brown, Lewis' cousin and the bass player in his band. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The backlash was swift. Myra Gale Brown today known as Myra Lewis William, was an American author. Elvis Presley, the biggest rock star in the world, was dating a 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who would later become his wife. Lewis didn't seem to realize that this was offensive to most urban markets (and to other countries). Katie Serena is a New York City-based writer and a staff writer at All That's Interesting. Sadly, Jerry II died in 1973 when he was only 19 years old, perThe Guardian. We were going to visit a bunch of places in Europe. When we arrived, the reporters were there as everyone got off the plane. Im not sure Jerry even remembered where he went, but he was just put on the first plane leaving because daddy was furious. He convinced disc jockeys to give him a second chance, and the music industry eventually forgave him. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. 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. Indeed, it was. It was crude and rude and ridiculous what it was doing to the teenagers. And when I said what I said, it was like his hair caught on fire. On December 12, 1958, Myra, 13, married Lewis, 22, in Hernando, Mississippi. 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! Earthy colored wedded Lewis in Hernando, Mississippi on December 12, 1957, at 13 years old. Siblings . 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 joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows. Williams said her father marched down to Sun Records ready to confront Lewis. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). He also toldThe Guardianhow he copes with having lost a few of his kids and ex wives. 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. She has been in news due to the death of her husband, on October 28, 2022. In 1970, Myra Gale Brown filed for divorce from Jerry Lee Lewis on the grounds of adultery and abuse. "Sometimes I say something about Jerry and people say, 'Isnt he the one married the little girl?' The marriage eventually came to an end in 1970, when Williams divorced Lewis. Jerry Lee, never one to change his mind, took her anyway. The singer married his first wife, Dorothy Barton, when he was just 16. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Lewis Williams with their newborn son Steve Allen Lewis on Feb. 28, 1959, in Ferriday, Louisiana. (7) See myra gale brown stock video clips. Myra Gale Browns height is unknown & weight Not Available right. He knew I was with them. 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. Rock n roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis passed away on Friday at age 87. 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. American actor Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis and Winona Ryder as Myra Gale Brown in the film "Great Balls of Fire! It was to Judith Brown, who was the ex-wife of his cousin Rusty Brown, Myra's younger brother. [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. Jerry Lee Lewis may be a lot of things, but hes not a simple cartoon., Williams again addressed their scandalous relationship in her 2016 memoir, The Spark That Survived. While promoting the book, she took to Instagram to air some of the sordid details. ", "I was the adult in the room and Jerry was the silly child," she said. She posed as me and signed the marriage license application. Options, mindsetsthis world has gone so fast the last fifty years that you cant keep up with it. Im still the 13-year-old child bride," Williams, who became a real-estate broker in Atlanta, said. Jerry Lee Lewis III, 35, was born in 1987, about three years after Jerry and Kerrie tied the knot. They had two children, Steve Allen Lewis (19591962), who drowned at age three, and daughter Phoebe Allen Lewis (b. (The situation was not helped by the fact that his latest single was called "High School Confidential."). 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 . In the end, she says, Jerry Lee Lewis downfall was a bigger issue than her age. In 1956, Lewis moved in with J.W. "And thats how we got married," she chuckled. [16][14] The book was originally released in October 1982 by William Morrow and Company. But Lewis had a storied private life, and his career took a nosedive in the late 1950s, when he married Myra Gale Brown. She became a licensed broker in 1984, and is a recipient of the Million Dollar Life Time Award 2003. Myra Lewis Williams has no hard feelings over the relationship and still blames the press for turning it into something wicked. Myra gale brown Stock Photos and Images. 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,. The couple eventually decided to call it quits and divorced in 1957. Myra Brown, his Ex-wife, also showed her grief after his death and said in a recent interview, She never Lost hwePrimery Name 13 years old Child Bride Title.. "Because we have a daughter, Jerry and I remained in contact for many years," she wrote. "Jerry Lee Lewis may be a lot of things, but hes not a simple cartoon. 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. Remember, gossip is not gospel," Williams wrote on Instagram in 2015. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites 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. She described the memoir as her story of how to overcome lifes worst tragedies and your own dumbass decisions.. 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. 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. She married her third husband, Richard Williams, in 1984, and joined his Century 21 office. On December 12, 1957, Jerry married his third cousin, Myra Gale Brown. 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. In an Instagram post from 2015, Williams discussed her relationship with Lewis after . He was blacklisted from the radio. 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. I took care of everything, the late music star told the outlet in 2015. After they divorced, Brown worked as a receptionist to support her daughter as a single parent. [9], By 1970, Lewis' drug addiction, alcoholism, and infidelity took a toll on their marriage. Myra (given name) The name Myra was created by the 17th-century poet Fulke Greville 1st Barone Brooke (1554-1628). As of Friday afternoon, Williams had not released a public statement about Lewis death. Jerry Lee Lewis, who passed away on Oct. 28, 2022, was known as a rock n roll legend. Myra Gale Brown Today What Happened To Her. Myra Lewis was born on July 11, 1944 in the USA as Myra Gale Brown. (Photo by Keith Hamshere/Getty Images), "He had gone to Louisiana and came back," she recalled. She is a writer, known for Great Balls of Fire! 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. In 1957, Lewis infamously married his 13-year-old first cousin once removed, Myra Gale Brown. So whatever happened to her? 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. I guess he had it all set up. Thats exactly what it was.. (She filed for divorce in 1970, citing allegations of abuse and adultery.). His managers had warned him about the British press and their delight in tearing down American superstars, but Lewis hadnt listened. The preachers hated it. I guess I went through like a trial by fire. Thats what I yearned for more than anything else. 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. The couple's controversial marriage comes after the newlyweds arrived in London in May 1958 for Lewis' 37-day tour. She married Lewis on December 12, 1957, at the age of 13. independent local journalism in Phoenix. Rusty Brown is Myra Gale Brown's brother, O'Connor said. 1954). Jerry Lee Lewis, left, poses with Myra Gale Brown at a London press conference on May 24, 1958. 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. ", a 1989 biopic of the famous rock 'n' roll musician. The couple owns a real estate company in Atlanta. Copyright 2023 by Vizaca. ", a 1989 biopic of the famous rock 'n' roll musician. 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. Photograph: George Little/Daily Mail/Rex/Shutterstock. "I was reading this book about this baby duck who got lost from its mother. Join the New Times community and help support With a new memoir, The Spark That Survived," she wrote at the time, sharing an image emblazoned with "Whatever happened to Myra?" Many fans grieved after knowing their rock n roll star died, and they sent their prayers and condolence toward him. I mean, he was ready to kill. The revelation resulted in the abrupt cancellation of Lewis tour; he was blacklisted by radio and his earnings dropped overnight. 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. She was crying as she moved down the hall and knocked at the door with the iron bars. Thats what this book basically is, this is what happened, this is how I handled it and here I am today, she said. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Brown, who is known today as an author, is Lewis' first cousin once removed. [5] This caused an uproar and after a few dates the tour was cancelled. 6:00AM. After several tour dates were canceled, Jerry and his new bride left the country. (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. Myra is still alive today. She dwells in Duluth, Georgia with her better half Richard Williams. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Many rememberJerry Lee Lewisfor the prolificmusic career that cemented his status as a rock 'n' roll icon before his death at age 87 Friday. The marriage lasted a year and a half. Earthy colored. 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. After Lewis' second device was finalized, he tied the knot with Myra Gale Brown. Lewis was poised to replace Presley as rock n roll's new hit-maker. (Photo by Tom Baffer/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images). She also described herself as the adult in the relationship with Lewis. Steven Allen Lewiswas born in 1959, when his then-wife was 14 years old. Lewis went on to marry four more times. Moreover, Lewis had not at this point separated from his past spouse, Jane Mitcham. Myra Gale Brown (born on July 11, 1944) is an American creator. "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. over an old photo of her and Lewis. Dad, youre the greatest and I love you!, he captioned the snapshot. Lewis was poised to replace Presley as rocks prime hit-maker after the "Jailhouse Rock" singer was drafted into the Army. ", 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 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. Brown. [3][2] When Lewis arrived in London for a 37-date tour in May 1958, Brown revealed to a reporter at the airport that she was his wife. Brown took a job with Memphis Gas, Light and Water, where he worked as a lineman. It was crude and rude and ridiculous what it was doing to the teenagers. Lewis married once more to Jaren Elizabeth Gunn Pate the following year. It was a marriage license. Earthy colored remarried in 1984 and is presently known as Myra Williams. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. When Jerry married his first cousin once removed,Myra, the former couple welcomed two adorable kids together. According to Williams, her relationship with Lewis also gave criticsof rock 'n' roll more leverage to attack the genre. The press made me out to be a seductive Lolita, which was as far from the truth as it gets. ", Jerry Lee Lewis pictured with his daughter Phoebe at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, West London.