Lew Brown was a Russian-born American lyricist, best known for his work in the Tin Pan Alley era of American music. He formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in history with composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Buddy DeSylva, known as DeSylva, Brown and Henderson. Together, they penned countless popular hits of the 1920s and 1930s, including "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Button Up Your Overcoat." Brown's clever and relatable lyrics made him a cornerstone of American popular song, and he was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.