Jerry Lee Lewis, the “Killer” of rock and roll, was a man who lived life on the edge. But his wild ways took a dark turn when he married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, a marriage that would forever stain his legacy.
In 1957, at the height of his fame, Jerry Lee Lewis married Myra Gale Brown, the daughter of his cousin and bass player. The news of this union sent shockwaves through the music industry and the public at large. It wasn’t just the age difference that caused such a stir; it was the fact that Myra was his third cousin.
At the time, Myra was just 13 years old, a child who had no idea that her relationship with Lewis was considered scandalous. Elvis Presley, the biggest rock star in the world, was dating a 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who would later become his wife. It seemed like infatuation with a child came with the territory of rock and roll.
Myra, who had grown up in a time of uncertainty and fear, dreamed of a simple life: a loving husband, a family, and a home. She saw marriage as a way to escape the anxieties of the world and build a life of her own.
Jerry Lee Lewis’s plans to conquer England with his new bride were dashed upon arrival. The British public, shocked and disgusted by his marriage to a child, turned on him. He was branded a “cradle robber” and a “baby snatcher,” and his career was effectively destroyed.
The British press, eager to tear down American superstars, seized upon the story of Lewis and his young bride. They relentlessly attacked him, painting him as a monster who had taken advantage of a child. The media frenzy surrounding the marriage turned Lewis into a pariah, and his career never fully recovered.
The controversy surrounding Jerry Lee Lewis’s marriage to Myra Gale Brown had a lasting impact on both their lives. Lewis’s career was forever marred by the scandal, and he was forced to reinvent himself as a country music star. Myra, who was just a child when she married Lewis, became a symbol of the dark side of rock and roll.
The story of Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown is a cautionary tale about the power of the media and the consequences of our actions. It also raises questions about the role of age and consent in relationships, particularly in the context of the 1950s.
Jerry Lee Lewis’s marriage to Myra Gale Brown is a story of love, lies, and the destructive power of scandal. It is a story that has captivated audiences for decades, and it continues to raise questions about the complexities of relationships, the role of the media, and the enduring power of rock and roll.
