Lew Brown (born Louis Brownstein; December 10, 1893 – February 5, 1958) was a lyricist for

popular songs Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...

in the United States. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and the

Roaring Twenties The Roaring Twenties, sometimes stylized as Roaring '20s, refers to the 1920s decade in music and fashion, as it happened in Western society and Western culture. It was a period of economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in the U ...

, he wrote lyrics for several of the top

Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley was a collection of music publishers and songwriters in New York City that dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It originally referred to a specific place: West 28th Street ...

composers, especially Albert Von Tilzer. Brown was one third of a successful songwriting and music publishing team with

Buddy DeSylva George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva (January 27, 1895 – July 11, 1950) was an American songwriter, film producer and record executive. He wrote or co-wrote many popular songs and, along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs, he co-founded Capitol Re ...

and

Ray Henderson Ray Henderson (born Raymond Brost; December 1, 1896 – December 31, 1970) was an American songwriter. Early life Born in Buffalo, New York, United States, Henderson moved to New York City and became a popular composer in Tin Pan Alley. He was o ...

from 1925 until 1931. Brown also wrote or co-wrote many Broadway shows and Hollywood films. Among his most-popular songs are "

Button Up Your Overcoat "Button Up Your Overcoat" is a popular song. The music was written by Ray Henderson, the lyrics by B.G. DeSylva and Lew Brown. The song was published in 1928, and was first performed later that same year by vocalist Ruth Etting. However, the mos ...

", " Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree", "

Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" is a popular song with music by Ray Henderson and lyrics by Lew Brown, published in 1931. Ethel Merman introduced this song in George White's ''Scandals of 1931''. A Rudy Vallée version, recorded in 1931, spent f ...

", " That Old Feeling", and "

The Birth of the Blues "The Birth of the Blues" is a popular 1926 song composed by Ray Henderson, with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. It was used in the Broadway revue ''George White's Scandals of 1926''. It was recorded in its debut year by Paul Whiteman (with v ...

Early life and family

Brown was born December 10, 1893, in

Odessa Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrativ ...

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

, part of today's

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

, the son of Etta (Hirsch) and Jacob Brownstein. His family was

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

. When he was five, his family immigrated to the United States and settled in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. He attended

DeWitt Clinton High School , motto_translation = Without Work Nothing Is Accomplished , image = DeWitt Clinton High School front entrance IMG 7441 HLG.jpg , seal_image = File:Clinton News.JPG , seal_size = 124px , ...

but, at the suggestion of a teacher, he left to pursue his songwriting career without graduating. Lew Brown was married first to Sylvia Fiske, then to Catherine "June" Brown until his death. He had two daughters from his first marriage, Naomi Brown Greif and Arlyne Brown Mulligan. The latter was married to the prominent jazz saxophonist

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

Career

Brown started writing for

in 1912 and collaborated with established composers, like Albert Von Tilzer. Two of their well-known works that year were "(I'm Going Back to) Kentucky Sue" and "I'm the Lonesomest Gal in Town". Brown then wrote a string of popular

songs during 1914–1918, teaming with Von Tilzer, Al Harriman, and other composers. In 1925, Brown formed his most-successful songwriting partnership with

and

. Their cheerful hits, such as "

" and "

", earned lasting appreciation for "the rich variety of verbal mosaics" and "the suggestive imagery that was their trademark". DeSylva left in 1931 but Brown and Henderson continued scoring Broadway shows. Brown also worked with other composers, like

Sammy Fain Sammy Fain (born Samuel E. Feinberg; June 17, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American composer of popular music. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he contributed numerous songs that form part of The Great American Songbook, and to Broadway theatre. ...

. "Brown in 1939 estimated that he had written or collaborated on about 7,000 songs." Brown wrote the lyrics to " Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" (1942), which appeared in the film ''

Private Buckaroo ''Private Buckaroo'' is a 1942 American comedy-musical film directed by Edward F. Cline starring The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Harry James, Shemp Howard, Joe E. Lewis, and Jennifer Holt. The film tells the story of army recruits following b ...

''. Recordings by

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...

and by the

Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andrews (January ...

popularized the song with

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

soldiers and radio audiences. Not long after this hit, Brown retired from songwriting.

Honors and awards

Brown and Fain's " That Old Feeling" (1937) was nominated for an

Academy Award for Best Original Song The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed th ...

. " Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" was inducted into the

Grammy Hall of Fame The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...

. Von Tilzer, DeSylva, Brown and Henderson were all included in the inaugural class of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Biographical film

The DeSylva, Brown and Henderson songwriting team was the subject of the 1956 musical

biopic A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...

: ''

The Best Things in Life Are Free "The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a duet between American singers Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, recorded for the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced soundtrack to the 1992 American film '' Mo' Money'', starring Damon Wayans. The song was ...

''. Brown was portrayed by

Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine (; born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American actor whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his gruff but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin. A popular perfor ...

Death

Brown died of a heart attack at home in New York City on February 5, 1958.

Individual songs

Cecil Mack Cecil Mack (November 6, 1873 – August 1, 1944) was an American composer, lyricist and music publisher. Biography Born as Richard Cecil McPherson in Portsmouth, Virginia, he attended the Norfolk Mission College and Lincoln University in Pennsyl ...

and Lew Brown, " Shine". Music:

Ford Dabney Ford Thompson Dabney (15 March 1883 – 6 June 1958) was an American ragtime pianist, composer, songwriter, and acclaimed director of bands and orchestras for Broadway musical theater, revues, vaudeville, and early recordings. Additionally, for ...

. 1910. * Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. "(I'm Going Back to) Kentucky Sue". New York: The York Music Co., 1912. * Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. "I'm The Lonesomest Gal In Town". New York: The York Music Co., 1912. *

Edgar Leslie Edgar Leslie (December 31, 1885 – January 22, 1976) was an American songwriter. Biography Edgar Leslie was born in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1885. He studied at the Cooper Union in New York. He published his first song in 1909, starting a l ...

and Lew Brown. "They Start in to Battle Again". New York, 1914. *Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. " Au Revoir But Not Good Bye, Soldier Boy". Broadway Music, 1917. *Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. " I May Be Gone for a Long, Long Time". Broadway Music, 1917. *Albert Von Tilzer, Charles McCarron, and Lew Brown. " What Kind of an American are You?". Broadway Music, 1917. *Darl MacBoyle and Lew Brown. "Since Johnny Got His Gun". Music: Albert Von Tilzer. New York, 1917. *"I'll Come Back to You When It's All Over". Music:

Kerry Mills Kerry Mills ''(né'' Frederick Allen Mills; 1 February 1869 in Philadelphia – 5 December 1948 in Hawthorne, California), publishing also as F.A. Mills was an American ragtime composer and music publishing executive of popular music during the Ti ...

. 1917. *Al Harriman and Lew Brown. " I'm Writing to You, Sammy". New York, 1917. *Al Harriman and Lew Brown. "I Can't Stay Here While You're Over There". New York, 1918. *Lew Brown and Al Harriman. " I Wonder What They're Doing To-Night (Your Girl and Mine)". Music: Jack Egan. New York, 1918. *Al Harriman and Lew Brown. "We'll Do Our Share (While You're Over There)". Music: Jack Egan. New York, 1918. *Will Clayton and Lew Brown. " (Watch, Hope, and Wait) Little Girl ('I'm Coming Back to You')". New York, 1918. *Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. "I May Stay Away a Little Longer". New York, 1918. *Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. "

Oh By Jingo! "Oh By Jingo!" (also "Oh By Jingo! Oh By Gee You're The Only Girl For Me"), is a 1919 novelty song by Albert Von Tilzer with lyrics by Lew Brown. The song was featured in the Broadway show " Linger Longer Letty", and became one of the biggest T ...

" 1919. * Max Friedman,

Lew Porter Lew Porter (February 4, 1892, New York City – January 29, 1956, Los Angeles) was an American composer and songwriter, contributing to the soundtracks of 72 films. *Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown. "Dapper Dan", 1921. *" Last Night on the Back Porch". Music: Carl Schraubstader. 1923. *Lew Brown and

Sidney Clare Sidney Clare (August 15, 1892 – August 29, 1972) was an American comedian, dancer and composer. His best-known songs include "On the Good Ship Lollipop" (introduced by Shirley Temple), " You're My Thrill" (recorded by Billie Holiday), and "Ple ...

. " Then I'll Be Happy". Music:

Cliff Friend Cliff Friend (October 1, 1893 – June 27, 1974) was an accomplished songwriter and pianist. A member of Tin Pan Alley, Friend co-wrote several hits including " Lovesick Blues", "My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" and " The Merry-Go-Round Broke Do ...

. 1925. *Lew Brown and

Billy Rose Billy Rose (born William Samuel Rosenberg; September 6, 1899 – February 10, 1966) was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. For years both before and after World War II, Billy Rose was a major force in entertainment, with sh ...

Don't Bring Lulu "Don't Bring Lulu" is a 1925 Dixieland jazz song. Background ''Don't Bring Lulu'' was first published by Jerome H. Remick, based in Detroit and New York City, United States, in 1925. It is the 63rd most covered song from 1925. "Lulu" in the son ...

". Music:

. 1925. *

and Lew Brown. "

". Music:

. 1926. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. "

It All Depends on You "It All Depends on You" is a 1926 popular song with music by Ray Henderson, lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown. The song, written for the musical '' Big Boy'', was published in 1926. It was featured in the hit 1928 Warner Bros. film '' The S ...

". Music: Ray Henderson. 1926. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. " Lucky Day". Music: Ray Henderson. 1926. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. "

". Music: Ray Henderson. 1927. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. " So Blue". Music: Ray Henderson. 1927. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. " The Varsity Drag". Music: Ray Henderson. 1927. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. "

". Music: Ray Henderson. 1928. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. "

You're the Cream in My Coffee "You're the Cream in My Coffee" is a popular song published in 1928. Popular recordings were by Annette Hanshaw, Ben Selvin (vocal by Jack Palmer), Ted Weems (vocal by Parker Gibbs) and Ruth Etting. The music was written by Ray Henderson, wit ...

". Music: Ray Henderson. 1928. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. " Sonny Boy". Music: Ray Henderson. 1928. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. "

Together ''ToGetHer'' (, aka Superstar Express) is a 2009 Taiwanese drama starring Jiro Wang of Fahrenheit, Rainie Yang and George Hu. It was produced by Comic International Productions ( 可米國際影視事業股份有限公司) and directed by Linzi ...

". Music: Ray Henderson. 1928. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. " I'm A Dreamer, Aren't We All?". Music: Ray Henderson. 1929. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. " Sunny Side Up". Music: Ray Henderson. 1929. *Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. " One More Time". Music: Ray Henderson. 1931. *"

". Music: Ray Henderson. 1931. *" That's Why Darkies Were Born". Music: Ray Henderson. 1931. *" Stand Up and Cheer". Music:

Harry Akst Harry Akst (August 15, 1894 – March 31, 1963)
- accessed November 19, 2011 was an American That Old Feeling". Music:

. 1937. *Lew Brown and Wladimir Timm. "

Beer Barrel Polka "Beer Barrel Polka", also known as "The Barrel Polka", "Roll Out the Barrel", or "Rosamunde", is a 1927 polka composed by Czech musician Jaromír Vejvoda. Lyrics were added in 1934, subsequently gaining worldwide popularity during World War II a ...

" (English lyrics). 1939. *Lew Brown,

Charles Tobias Charles Tobias (August 15, 1898 – July 7, 1970) was an American songwriter. Biography Born in New York City, United States, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters. He started hi ...

, and

Sam H. Stept Samuel Howard Stept (aka Sammy Stept; 18 September 1897 – 1 December 1964) was an American songwriter who wrote for Broadway, Hollywood and the big bands. He became known simply as Sam Stept or Sam H. Stept – he rarely used his full middle n ...

. " Comes Love". 1939. *Lew Brown, Charles Tobias, and Sam H. Stept. " Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me)". New York: Robbins Music Corp, 1942.

Theater and film productions

Theater source: Playbill Vault"Lew Brown"
''Playbill''. Retrieved January 19, 2016. *'' George White's Scandals of 1925'' –

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own duri ...

– co-lyricist *'' George White's Scandals of 1926'' – revue – co-lyricist *'' Good News'' (1927) –

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

– co-lyricist *''Manhattan Mary'' (1927) – musical – contributing composer, lyricist, bookwriter *'' George White's Scandals of 1928'' – revue – co-lyricist *''

Hold Everything! ''Hold Everything!'' is a musical comedy with lyrics by Lew Brown and B. G. de Sylva, music by Ray Henderson, and has an accompanying book by John McGowan and B. G. de Sylva. Produced by Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley, the Broadway producti ...

'' (1928) – musical – co-lyricist *''

Three Cheers Hip hip hooray (also hippity hip hooray; ''Hooray'' may also be spelled and pronounced hoorah, hurrah, hurray etc.) is a cheer called out to express congratulation toward someone or something, in the English-speaking world and elsewhere. By a sol ...

'' (1928) – musical – contributing lyricist *''

The Singing Fool ''The Singing Fool'' is a 1928 American musical drama part-talkie motion picture directed by Lloyd Bacon which was released by Warner Bros. The film stars Al Jolson and is a follow-up to his previous film, '' The Jazz Singer''. It is credited w ...

'' (1928) –

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

– co-lyricist *'' Sunny Side Up'' (1929) – musical film – co-lyricist, co-bookwriter *''

Follow Thru ''Follow Thru'' is a 1930 American pre-Code musical romantic comedy film photographed entirely in Technicolor. It was the second all-color all-talking feature to be produced by Paramount Pictures. The film was based on the hit 1929 Broadway mu ...

'' (1929) – musical – co-lyricist *''

'' (1930) – musical film – co-lyricist *'' Flying High'' (1930) – musical – co-lyricist *'' Flying High'' (1931) – musical film – co-lyricist *'' George White's Scandals of 1931'' – revue – lyricist *'' Indiscreet'' (1931) –

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

– co-producer, co-writer, co-lyricist *''Hot-Cha!'' (1932) – musical – lyricist, co-bookwriter *''Strike Me Pink'' (1933) – revue – co-producer, lyricist, co-writer, production co-supervisor *''

Calling All Stars Calling All Stars may refer to: *Calling All Stars (1934 musical), a 1934 Broadway musical *Calling All Stars (1937 musical) ''Calling All Stars'' is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by Herbert Smith and starring Arthur Askey, Evely ...

'' (1934) – revue – producer, co-writer, lyricist, co-director, production supervisor *''

Stand Up and Cheer! ''Stand Up and Cheer!'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code musical film directed by Hamilton MacFadden. The screenplay by Lew Brown and Ralph Spence was based upon a story idea by Will Rogers and Philip Klein. The film is about efforts undertaken dur ...

'' (1934) – musical film – associate producer, co-composer, lyricist, co-bookwriter *''

Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938 ''Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938'' (also known by its shortened form, ''Vogues of 1938'') is a 1937 musical comedy film produced by Walter Wanger and distributed by United Artists. It was directed by Irving Cummings, written by Bella Spewack and S ...

'' – featured co-songwriter for " That Old Feeling" *''Yokel Boy'' (1939) – musical – producer, director, bookwriter, co-composer, co-lyricist *''Crazy With the Heat'' (1941) – revue – director *'' Good News'' (1947) – musical film – co-lyricist *'' Mr. Wonderful'' (1956) – musical – featured co-songwriter for "

" Posthumous credits *'' Good News'' (1974 revision/ revival) – co-composer, co-lyricist *'' Big Deal'' (1986) – musical – featured co-songwriter for "

" and "

" *'' Fosse'' (1999) – revue – featured co-songwriter for "

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" is a popular song with music by Ray Henderson and lyrics by Lew Brown, published in 1931. Ethel Merman introduced this song in George White's ''Scandals of 1931''. A Rudy Vallée version, recorded in 1931, spent f ...

" *''

Swing! ''Swing!'' is a musical conceived by Paul Kelly with music by various artists. It celebrates the music of the Swing era of jazz (1930s–1946), including many well-known tunes by artists like Duke Ellington, William "Count" Basie, Benny Goodma ...

'' (1999) – revue – featured co-songwriter for " Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree"

References

External links

Lew Brown, Songwriters Hall of Fame
– includes full

ASCAP The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...

catalog of his songs and shows * *
The Jazz Age
at the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

, audio tracks 04, 08–22
Lew Brown recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Lew Jewish American songwriters American musical theatre composers 1893 births 1958 deaths 20th-century American musicians Broadway composers and lyricists Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States Odesa Jews Musicians from New York City DeWitt Clinton High School alumni 20th-century American Jews