Background
Brown was born 19 December 1893 in Odessa, Russian Empire.
composer screenwriter songwriter
Brown was born 19 December 1893 in Odessa, Russian Empire.
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 shows.
His family immigrated to the United States in 1898 and settled in The Bronx of New York City.
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).
Later, Brown was part of a song writing team with Buddy DeSylva and Ray Henderson. 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 World War II soldiers.
Not long after this hit, Brown retired from songwriting. Brown died in New York City on 5 February 1958. 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.
Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown.
I"m Going Back to Kentucky Sue. New York: York, 1912.
Online Computer Library Center 16992118
Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown. Au Revoir But Not Good Bye, Soldier Boy.
Music, 1917. Online Computer Library Center 459552706
Von Tilzer, Alber, Charles McCarron, and Lew Brown.
What Kind of an American are You?. Music, 1917. Online Computer Library Center 72437572
Von Tilzer, Albert, and Lew Brown. I May Be Gone for a Long, Long Time.
Music, 1917.
Online Computer Library Center 20119729
Brown, Lew, Charles Tobias, and Sam H. Stept. Don"t Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Maine). New York: Robbins Music Corporation, 1942.
Online Computer Library Center 26008183
Source: PlaybillVault
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 Maine 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".