Michael Brown died eleven days ago, I just learned on Facebook. I had a chance to meet him about four years ago and the opportunity got by him. He may best be remembered for a song from NEW FACES OF 1952 that was later a hit for the Chad Mitchell trio. It went:
Oh, you can't chop your mama up in Massachusetts,
Even if you're tired of her cuisine.
No, you can't chop your papa up in Massachusetts;
You know it's certain sure to cause a scene.
He also wrote the caustic "John Birch Society," lyrics for THE HOUSE OF FLOWERS, and a lot of revue songs and a couple of children's books. I want to hear "Won't You Come home, Judge Crater."
Now, what few know is that Michael and his wife were friends of truman Capote, and they gave Harper Lee in 1956 an income for a year to write To Kill A Mockingbird,and for that alone he deserves sainthood.