Lew Brown
| Lew Brown | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Louis Brownstein |
| Born | December 10, 1893 |
| Origin | Odessa, Russian Empire |
| Died |
February 5, 1958 (aged 64) New York City, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Lyricist |
| Years active | 1920's–1950's |
| Associated acts | Albert Von Tilzer, Con Conrad, Harold Arlen, Ray Henderson, Buddy De Sylva |
Lew Brown (December 10, 1893 – February 5, 1958), born Louis Brownstein, was a lyricist for popular songs in the United States. He wrote lyrics for many of the top Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the day, including Albert Von Tilzer, Con Conrad, and Harold Arlen. He was one third of a successful songwriting and music publishing team with Ray Henderson and Buddy De Sylva from 1925 until 1929. Brown also wrote or co-wrote several Broadway shows.
Early life
Brown was born 19 December 1893 in Odessa, Russian Empire. His family immigrated to the United States in 1898 and settled in The Bronx of New York City.[1]
Career
Brown started writing for Tin Pan Alley in 1912 and collaborated with established composers, like Albert Von Tilzer. One of their well-known works is I'm Going Back to Kentucky Sue (1912).[2]
Later, Brown was part of a song writing team with Buddy DeSylva and Ray Henderson.[2]
Brown wrote the lyrics to Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (1942) which appeared in the film Private Buckaroo. Glenn Miller's version popularized it with World War II soldiers. Not long after this hit, Brown retired from songwriting.[3]
Death
Brown died in New York City on 5 February 1958.[3]
In popular culture
He was portrayed by Ernest Borgnine in the 1956 film The Best Things in Life Are Free, about the songwriting team of Brown, De Sylva and Henderson.[4]
Individual songs
- Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown. I'm Going Back to Kentucky Sue. New York: York, 1912. OCLC 16992118
- Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown. Au Revoir But Not Good Bye, Soldier Boy. Broadway Music, 1917. OCLC 459552706
- Von Tilzer, Alber, Charles McCarron, and Lew Brown. What Kind of an American are You?. Broadway Music, 1917. OCLC 72437572
- Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown. I May Be Gone for a Long, Long Time. Broadway Music, 1917. OCLC 20119729
- Brown, Lew, Charles Tobias, and Sam H. Stept. Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me). New York: Robbins Music Corp, 1942. OCLC 26008183
Broadway
Source: PlaybillVault[5]
- George White's Scandals of 1925 (1925) – revue – co-lyricist
- George White's Scandals of 1926 (1926) – revue – co-lyricist
- Good News (1927) – musical – co-lyricist
- Manhattan Mary (1927) – musical – contributing composer, lyricist, and bookwriter
- George White's Scandals of 1928 (1928) – revue – co-lyricist
- Hold Everything! (1928) – musical – co-lyricist
- Follow Thru (1929) – musical – co-lyricist
- Flying High (1930) – musical – co-lyricist
- George White's Scandals of 1931 (1931) – revue – lyricist
- Hot-Cha! (1932) – Musical theater – lyricist and co-bookwriter
- Strike Me Pink (1933) – revue – co-producer, lyricist, writer, and production supervisor
- Calling All Stars (1934) – revue – producer, writer, lyricist, director, and production supervisor
- Yokel Boy (1939) – musical – producer, director, bookwriter, co-composer, co-lyricist
- Crazy With the Heat (1941) – revue – director
- Mr. Wonderful (1956) – musical – featured songwriter for "Birth of the Blues"
Posthumous Credits
- Good News (1974 revision/revival) – co-composer, co-lyricist
- Big Deal (1986) – musical – featured co-songwriter for "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" and "Button Up Your Overcoat"
- Fosse (1999) – revue – featured co-songwriter for "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries"
- Swing! (1999) – revue – featured songwriter for "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree"
References
- ↑ Jasen, David A. (2003). Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song. New York: Routledge. p. 54. ISBN 0415938775.
- 1 2 Furia, Philip (1990). The Poets of Tin Pan Alley: a History of America's Great Lyricists. Oxford University Press. p. 87. ISBN 0195064089.
- 1 2 Jasen, David A. (2003). Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song. New York and London: Routledge. p. 55. ISBN 0415938775.
- ↑ "'The Best Things in Life Are Free' Overview" tcm.com, accessed January 19, 2016
- ↑ "Lew Brown Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed January 19, 2016
External links
- Lew Brown at the Internet Broadway Database
- Lew Brown at the Internet Archive
- Lew Brown, SongWriters Hall of Fame