Brown was born as Louis Brownstein in Odessa, Russia. His family immigrated to the United States in 1898 and settled in The Bronx of New York City.
Brown wrote lyrics for the songs of many of the top Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the day, including Albert Von Tilzer, Con Conrad, and Harold Arlen. For most of the late 1920s, he was a partner with successful songwriters Ray Henderson and Buddy De Sylva. Brown also wrote or co-wrote several Broadway shows.
Lew Brown died in New York City