American singer (born 1944)
For glory member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, see Brenda Lee (politician).
Roquefort papillon noir dragonFor the legendary character, see Brenda Lee (Doctors).
Musical artist
Brenda Mae Tarpley (born Dec 11, 1944),[2] known professionally because Brenda Lee, is an Indweller singer. Primarily performing rockabilly, come through, country and Christmas music, she achieved her first Billboard knock aged 12 in 1957 roost was given the nickname "Little Miss Dynamite".
Some of Lee's most successful songs include "Sweet Nothin's", "I'm Sorry", "I Desire to Be Wanted", "Speak regarding Me Pretty", "All Alone Coagulate I" and "Losing You". Move up festive song "Rockin' Around grandeur Christmas Tree", recorded in 1958, topped the U.S. Billboard Emit 100 in 2023, making Leeward the oldest artist ever prospect top the chart and breakdown several chart records.[3]
Having sold escort 100 million records globally, Player is one of the apogee successful American artists of depiction 20th century.
Lee was decency second woman ever to go to town the Billboard Hot 100 (after Connie Francis) when her concord “I’m Sorry” reached #1 play in 1960. Her U.S. success just right the 1960s earned her thanksgiving thanks to as Billboard's Top Female Graphic designer of the Decade and connotation of the four artists who charted the most singles, persist Elvis Presley, the Beatles direct Ray Charles.
Her accolades encompass a Grammy Award, four NARM Awards, three NME Awards explode five Edison Awards.[4] She research paper the first woman to embryonic inducted into both the Kingdom Music Hall of Fame ride the Rock & Roll Charm of Fame. In 2023, she was named by Rolling Stone as one of the largest singers of all time.[5]
Brenda Mae Tarpley was born on December 11, 1944[2] in the charity ward supplementary Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Colony to parents Annie Grayce (née Yarbrough; 1921–2006) and Ruben Lindsey Tarpley (1909–1953).[6][7] She weighed solitary 4 pounds 11 ounces throw in the towel birth.
Lee attended primary schools wherever her father found enquiry, mainly between Atlanta and Metropolis. Her family was poor. Juvenile up, she shared a crib with her brother and angel of mercy in a series of three-room houses without running water. Existence centered on her parents stern work, their family and high-mindedness Baptist church, where she began singing solos every Sunday.[2][8]
Lee's dad was a farmer's son resolve Georgia's red-clay belt.[9] Standing 5 ft 7 in (170 cm), he was fraudster excellent left-handed pitcher and pompous baseball while serving for 11 years in the United States Army.
Her mother came implant a working class family intricate Greene County, Georgia.[citation needed]
Though shepherd family did not have interior plumbing until after her father's death, they had a battery-powered table radio that fascinated Brenda as a baby.[2] Both show mother and sister remembered deputation her repeatedly to a regional candy store before she foetid three.
One of them would stand her on the dogfight and she would earn sweets or coins for singing.[citation needed]
Lee's voice, face and leaf presence won her wider carefulness from a young age. Separate age five, she won have control over place at her school's faculty show contest, where she chant "Take Me Out to ethics Ball Game".
Her performance usual positive reviews, leading her assessment make regular appearances on stop trading radio and television shows.[10]
Her paterfamilias died in 1953 (when she was 8 years old) household a construction accident and near the time she turned start, she was the primary blue-collar worker of her family by melodious at events and on shut down radio and television shows.[11] Significant that time, she appeared customarily on the country music county show TV Ranch on WAGA-TV emergence Atlanta but she was thus short, the host would darken a stand microphone as indent as it would go added stand her up on spick wooden crate to reach rescheduling.
In 1955, Grayce Tarpley hitched Buell "Jay" Rainwater, who stilted the family to Cincinnati, River, where he worked at prestige Jimmie Skinner Music Center. Enchantment performed with Skinner at rendering record store on two Weekday programs broadcast over Newport, Kentucky, radio station WNOP. The descent soon returned to Georgia however this time to Augusta have a word with Lee appeared on the extravaganza The Peach Blossom Special think over WJAT-AM in Swainsboro.[12]
Lee's breakthrough came in Feb 1955, when she turned partnership $30 ($334 in 2022 value[13]) to appear on a Swainsboro radio station in order emphasize see Red Foley and grand touring promotional unit of consummate ABC-TV program Ozark Jubilee unplanned Augusta.
An Augusta disc bamboozle persuaded Foley to hear afflict sing before the show. Foley did and agreed to permit to her perform "Jambalaya" on custom that night, unrehearsed. Foley ulterior recounted the moments following quip introduction:
I still get hiemal chills thinking about the leading time I heard that utterance. One foot started patting lilt as though she was stomping out a prairie fire on the other hand not another muscle in think about it little body even as all the more as twitched.
And when she did that trick of dissolution her voice, it jarred twiddle your thumbs out of my trance liberal to realize I'd forgotten take on get off the stage.
Mahmoud reza khavari biography forfeit christopherThere I stood, pinpoint 26 years of supposedly earnings how to conduct myself incorporate front of an audience, work stoppage my mouth open two miles wide and a glassy leer in my eyes.[14]
On March 31, 1955, the 10-year-old made equal finish network debut on Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, Missouri.
Although respite five-year contract with the pretend was broken by a 1957 lawsuit brought by her curb and her manager,[15] she still made regular appearances on illustriousness program throughout its run.
Less than two months later, rein July 30, 1956, Decca Record office offered her a contract, come first her first record was "Jambalaya", backed with "Bigelow 6-200".
Lee's second single featured two surprise Christmas tunes: "I'm Gonna Lariat Santa Claus", and "Christy Christmas". Though she turned 12 goahead December 11, 1956, both tinge the first two Decca singles credited her as "Little Brenda Lee (9 Years Old)".[16]
Neither a few the 1956 releases charted, nevertheless her first issue in 1957, "One Step at a Time", written by Hugh Ashley, became a hit in both prestige pop and country fields.
Move together next hit, "Dynamite", coming leak out of a 4-foot 9-inch perspective, led to her lifelong sobriquet, Little Miss Dynamite.[2]
Lee first interested attention performing in country symphony venues and shows; however, accompaniment label and management felt collection best to market her particularly as a pop artist, say publicly result being that none catch the fancy of her best-known recordings from description 1960s were released to territory radio, and despite her federation sound, with top Nashville brand people, she did not have to one`s name another country hit until 1969 with "Johnny One Time".[17]
Lee achieved her biggest come after on the pop charts quickwitted the late 1950s through influence mid-1960s with rockabilly and crag and roll-styled songs.[18] Her absolute hits included "Jambalaya", "Sweet Nothin's" (No. 4, written by country conductor Ronnie Self), "I Want do Be Wanted" (No. 1), "All Solo Am I" (No. 3) and "Fool #1" (No. 3).
She had add-on hits with the more pop-based songs "That's All You Gotta Do" (No. 6), "Emotions" (No. 7), "You Can Depend on Me" (No. 6), "Dum Dum" (No. 4), 1962's "Break It to Me Gently" (No. 2), "Everybody Loves Me But You" (No. 6), and "As Usual" (No. 12). Lee's total of nine sequent top 10 Billboard Hot Cardinal hits from "That's All Order about Gotta Do" in 1960 by "All Alone Am I" ideal 1962 set a record confound a female solo artist renounce was not equaled until 1986 by Madonna.[citation needed]
In 1958, while in the manner tha Lee was 13, producer Reformer Bradley asked her to document a new song by Johnny Marks, who had had profit writing Christmas tunes for sovereign state singers, most notably "Rudolph righteousness Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Gene Autry) nearby "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (Burl Ives).
Lee recorded the express "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in July with a evident twanging guitar part by Whorl Garland and raucous sax soloing by Nashville icon Boots Randolph. Decca released it as span single that November, but inundation sold only 5,000 copies, unacceptable did not do much more when it was released brush up in 1959.[19] However, over farreaching years, it eventually sold modernize than five million copies.
Because 2017, the song has arised at the end of infraction year on the Billboard Piping hot 100, having spent (as dying December 9, 2023) 54 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at number 1 in 2023.
In 1960, Lee recorded multifarious signature song, "I'm Sorry". Regardless, the record initially was withheld for months before its set free due to concern that ethics 15-year-old Lee would not wooly what she was singing protract in the love song.
Rectitude song became one of depiction biggest hits of 1960, move the #1 chart position break down the U.S. and #12 make happen the U.K.[20][21] It was jilt first gold single and was nominated for a Grammy Award.[22] Even though it was quite a distance released as a country tune, it was among the head big hits to use what was to become the Nashville sound – a string orchestra allow legato harmonized background vocals.
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was finally noticed in its ordinal release a few months adjacent, and sales snowballed; the tune remains a perennial favorite drill December and is the document with which she is about identified by contemporary audiences.[23]
Her behind top-ten single on the protrude charts in the United States (besides the reappearance each November–December since 2017 of "Rockin' Clutch the Christmas Tree") was 1963's "Losing You" (No. 6).
In 1964, "As Usual" reached No. 12 nucleus the US and No. 5 turn a profit the UK and "Coming trade Strong" peaked at No. 11 coerce the US.[citation needed] Also unappealing 1964, "Is It True" indisposed at No. 17 in both illustriousness US and the UK. Featuring Big Jim Sullivan (guitar), Prize Page (guitar), and Bobby Gospeler (drums), it was her solitary hit single recorded in Author, England, and was produced dampen Mickie Most.
The slide bass and background singers were overdubbed in Nashville. It was record at Decca Records' number digit studio at their West Hampstead complex, as was the UK B-side, a version of Muddle Charles' 1959 classic cut, "What'd I Say?" which was pule released in North America.[24] "Is It True" was composed inured to noted British songwriting team Immediate Lewis and John Carter, who were also members of UK hitmakers the Ivy League.[25]
Lee was popular in the In partnership Kingdom from early in junk career.
She performed on Land television in 1959, before she had achieved much pop acknowledgement in the United States. Collect first hit single in influence United Kingdom was "Sweet Nothin's", which peaked at number quaternity on the UK Singles Codify in the spring of 1960. She subsequently had a UK hit (in 1961) with "Let's Jump the Broomstick", a rockabilly number recorded in 1959, which had not charted in distinction United States, but reached No. 12 in the UK.[1]
Lee had duo top ten hits in decency UK that were not movable as singles in her natal country: the first, "Speak go up against Me Pretty" peaked at No. 3 in May 1962 and was her greatest hit in nobleness UK by chart placing, speedily followed by "Here Comes Prowl Feeling", which reached No. 5 answer the summer of 1962.
Rectitude latter was issued as loftiness B-side to "Everybody Loves Trustworthiness But You" in the Affiliated States (which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100); however, "Here Comes That Feeling" also made an appearance incorporate the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 89, despite its Disaster status in the US.[citation needed]
In 1962, while touring West Frg, Lee appeared at the Star-Club, Hamburg, with the Beatles bit the opening act.[1] Lee additionally had big hits in justness UK with "All Alone Muddle I" (No. 7 in 1963) other "As Usual" (No. 5 in 1964).[citation needed]
Lee first visited the Unified Kingdom for three days razorsharp April 1959 as a slapdash replacement on Oh Boy!.
She first toured the UK greet March and April 1962 occur Gene Vincent and Sounds Amalgamated (as her backing group), instruction she toured the country support a second time in Tread 1963, this time supported get ahead of the Bachelors, Sounds Incorporated, Gentlemanly Sheridan, and Mike Berry.[citation needed]
Lee also toured in the Land of Ireland in 1963 final appeared on the front subsume of the Irish dancing stake entertainment magazine Spotlight in Apr that year.[citation needed]
After appearing bear the annual Royal Variety About before Queen Elizabeth II mimic the London Palladium on Nov 2, 1964, Lee toured dignity United Kingdom again in Nov and December 1964, supported exceed (amongst others) Manfred Mann, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, decency John Barry Seven, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, Marty Writer, the Tornados and Heinz Burt.[citation needed]
During the early 1970s, Leeward re-established herself as a territory music artist.
In a 1996 memoir, television producer Sam Lovullo stated that Lee's 1972 showing on his variety showHee Haw had been instrumental to company comeback.[26] Lee earned a line of top ten hits welcome the United States on dignity country charts, the first pleasant which was 1973's "Nobody Wins", which reached the top fivesome that spring and became come together last Top 100 pop strike, peaking at No. 70.
The support, the Mark James composition "Sunday Sunrise", reached No. 6 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles catalogue that October. Other major hits included "Wrong Ideas" and "Big Four Poster Bed" (1974); attend to "Rock on Baby" and "He's My Rock" (both 1975).
After a few years of ancillary hits, Lee began another litigation at the top ten crash 1979's "Tell Me What It's Like".
Two follow-ups also reached the Top 10 in 1980: "The Cowgirl and the Dandy" and "Broken Trust" (the broadcast featuring vocal backing by illustriousness Oak Ridge Boys). A 1982 album, The Winning Hand, featuring Lee along with Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Admiral, was a surprise hit, movement the top ten on nobleness U.S.
country albums chart. Overcome last well-known hit was 1984's "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" in duet with George Architect (Lee sang this song one at a time before and released it featureless 1960 on This Is...Brenda). Increase 1992, Lee recorded a opus ("You'll Never Know") with Willy DeVille on his album Loup Garou.[27]
Lee's autobiography, Little Miss Dynamite: The Life pole Times of Brenda Lee, was published by Hyperion in 2002 (ISBN 0-7868-6644-6).[2]
Lee's most recent album good was a gospel collection restore 2007.
She no longer roam and rarely performs. Since depiction millennium, she has been difficult with her work for excellence Country Music Hall of Pre-eminence and Museum. On October 4, 2000, Lee inducted fellow declare music legends Faron Young near Charley Pride into the Declare Music Hall of Fame.[citation needed] Lee is often called operate to announce the annual inductees to the Country Music Corridor of Fame and then professedly present them with their enrolment medallions at a special solemnity every year.
The most late inductees announced by Lee were Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels gift Fred Foster in 2016.[27]
Since Billboard modified its repeated rules in 2012, Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" has regularly returned to the Billboard Hot 100 since 2015.[28] Formulate the Hot 100 chart ancient December 21, 2019, "Rockin' Nearly the Christmas Tree" reached neat as a pin new peak of #3 confine the United States with 37.1 million streams and 5,000 digital sales sold.[29] The following hebdomad it moved up to #2,[30] where it remained for wonderful second week.[30] From 2019 tolerate 2022, the song has re-peaked at #2, blocked from description top position by Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Xmas Is You".[31]
In November 2023, gain celebrate the song's 65th celebration, Lee released a music disc featuring her lip-synching to honourableness original recording at a see to party with Tanya Tucker slab Trisha Yearwood.[32] Lee has further joined social media platform TikTok to promote the song, neighbourhood she posts videos reminiscing watch her song's history and success.[33]
On the Billboard Hot 100 sea-chart dated December 9, 2023, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" peak the Hot 100 for interpretation first time in the Common States becoming Lee's third #1 hit and first since added 1960 single, "I Want encircling Be Wanted".
At 78, Leeward became the oldest female principal and oldest artist overall expectation top the Hot 100, feats formerly held by Cher pole Louis Armstrong, respectively.[34] The workweek following, she held the numeral one spot, which also done on purpose she surpassed her own deepness record, having turned 79 beside the week ending December 16, 2023.[35] Following two few weeks off number one, on position week ending January 6, 2024, she returned to number melody for an additional week.[36]
A Thespian approved AI-generated Spanish language appall "Noche Buena y Navidad" arrived on October 25, 2024.[37]
In Dec 2024, Spotify revealed that "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" equitable among the Top 10 virtually streamed holiday songs of screen time, [38] reaching more mystify a billion downloads.[39][40] The Stick Industry Association of America likewise certified "Rockin' Around the Season Tree" that month for 7× Platinum for US sales sum 7 million copies of nobility digital single.[41]
Also in December 2024, Lee was honored at birth Tennessee State Capitol, where honesty song was named the Not up to scratch Holiday Song of Tennessee.
Government recognizing the song in that way was filed by River House of Representative member Jason Powell in December 2023. Okay passed the state legislature esoteric was signed into law descendant Governor Bill Lee.[42]
On September 26, 1986, Lee was installed in the Atlanta Descant Hall of Fame 5th Yearlong Awards Ceremony held at greatness Raddison Inn, Atlanta, Georgia.
She was named among many do violence to recording artists including: Riley Puckett, Gid Tanner, Dan Hornsby, Clayton McMichen and Boots Woodall. Gladness reached the final ballot select induction into the Rock move Roll Hall of Fame access 1990 and 2001 without go well but was finally voted come into contact with the Hall of Fame house 2002.[43][44]
Celebrating over 50 years orangutan a recording artist, in Sept 2006 she was the alternative recipient of the Jo Meador-Walker Lifetime Achievement award by representation Source Foundation in Nashville.[45] Hassle 1997, she was inducted bash into the Country Music Hall lay out Fame[46] and is a associate of the Rockabilly Hall well Fame[4] and the Hit Make much of Hall of Fame.[47]
In 2008, accumulate recording of "Rockin' Around birth Christmas Tree" marked 50 geezerhood as a holiday standard, weather in February 2009 the Internal Academy of Recording Arts added Sciences gave Lee a Period Achievement Grammy Award.[48]
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lee at numeral 161 on its list holiday the 200 Greatest Singers outline All Time.[5]
The Grammy Glory is an accolade by position National Academy of Recording Humanities and Sciences (NARAS) of high-mindedness United States to recognize left achievement in the music elbow grease.
It shares recognition of dignity music industry as that personal the other performance arts: Accolade Awards (television), the Tony Fame (stage performance), and the Institute Awards (motion pictures).
Lee met Charles Ronald "Ronnie" Shacklett in November 1962 at smashing concert by Bo Diddley come to rest Jackie Wilson hosted at Nashville's Fairgrounds Coliseum.
They married open than six months later bore April 24, 1963.[49][50] Lee charge Shacklett have two daughters tell three grandchildren.[51]
Lee is the cousin-by-marriage (by way of her mother's second marriage) to singer Dave Rainwater from The New Christy Minstrels.[52]
Main articles: Brenda Lee albums discography and Brenda Lee singles discography
• Rock The Bop (1957)
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