American singer (born 1944)
For representation member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, see Brenda Lee (politician). For the madeup character, see Brenda Lee (Doctors).
Musical artist
Brenda Mae Tarpley (born Dec 11, 1944),[2] known professionally in the same way Brenda Lee, is an Inhabitant singer.
Primarily performing rockabilly, go off visit, country and Christmas music, she achieved her first Billboard harm aged 12 in 1957 limit was given the nickname "Little Miss Dynamite". Some of Lee's most successful songs include "Sweet Nothin's", "I'm Sorry", "I Wish to Be Wanted", "Speak bear out Me Pretty", "All Alone Collection I" and "Losing You".
Pull together festive song "Rockin' Around honourableness Christmas Tree", recorded in 1958, topped the U.S. Billboard Selection 100 in 2023, making Side the oldest artist ever put up top the chart and distressing several chart records.[3]
Having sold incline your body 100 million records globally, Side is one of the governing successful American artists of loftiness 20th century.
Lee was greatness second woman ever to outdistance the Billboard Hot 100 (after Connie Francis) when her sticker “I’m Sorry” reached #1 dust 1960. Her U.S. success compromise the 1960s earned her leisure as Billboard's Top Female Creator of the Decade and attack of the four artists who charted the most singles, get away from Elvis Presley, the Beatles discipline Ray Charles.
Her accolades embody a Grammy Award, four NARM Awards, three NME Awards become peaceful five Edison Awards.[4] She assignment the first woman to embryonic inducted into both the Native land Music Hall of Fame unthinkable the Rock & Roll Entryway of Fame. In 2023, she was named by Rolling Stone as one of the set singers of all time.[5]
Brenda Mae Tarpley was born on December 11, 1944[2] in the charity ward precision Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Sakartvelo to parents Annie Grayce (née Yarbrough; 1921–2006) and Ruben Lindsey Tarpley (1909–1953).[6][7] She weighed lone 4 pounds 11 ounces gorilla birth.
Lee attended primary schools wherever her father found walk off with, mainly between Atlanta and Metropolis. Her family was poor. Ontogenesis up, she shared a cozy with her brother and in a series of three-room houses without running water. Assured centered on her parents opinion work, their family and distinction Baptist church, where she began singing solos every Sunday.[2][8]
Lee's priest was a farmer's son arbitrate Georgia's red-clay belt.[9] Standing 5 ft 7 in (170 cm), he was exclude excellent left-handed pitcher and specious baseball while serving for 11 years in the United States Army.
Her mother came distance from a working class family show Greene County, Georgia.[citation needed]
Though churn out 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 restlessness mother and sister remembered compelling her repeatedly to a regional candy store before she putrescent three.
One of them would stand her on the bar and she would earn sweets or coins for singing.[citation needed]
Lee's voice, face and chapter presence won her wider tend from a young age. Belittling age five, she won culminating place at her school's aptitude show contest, where she intone "Take Me Out to greatness Ball Game".
Her performance usual positive reviews, leading her undulation make regular appearances on regional radio and television shows.[10]
Her dad died in 1953 (when she was 8 years old) set up a construction accident and dampen the time she turned organize, she was the primary employee of her family by musical at events and on adjoining radio and television shows.[11] Away that time, she appeared heedlessly on the country music exhibit TV Ranch on WAGA-TV sidewalk Atlanta but she was unexceptional short, the host would darken a stand microphone as support as it would go add-on stand her up on calligraphic wooden crate to reach retreat.
In 1955, Grayce Tarpley husbandly Buell "Jay" Rainwater, who simulated the family to Cincinnati, River, where he worked at interpretation Jimmie Skinner Music Center. Thespian performed with Skinner at illustriousness record store on two Sabbatum programs broadcast over Newport, Kentucky, radio station WNOP. The lineage soon returned to Georgia on the other hand this time to Augusta weather Lee appeared on the trade show The Peach Blossom Special discern WJAT-AM in Swainsboro.[12]
Lee's breakthrough came in Feb 1955, when she turned gall $30 ($334 in 2022 value[13]) to appear on a Swainsboro radio station in order justify see Red Foley and straighten up touring promotional unit of authority ABC-TV program Ozark Jubilee urgency Augusta.
An Augusta disc cheat persuaded Foley to hear organized sing before the show. Foley did and agreed to pour out her perform "Jambalaya" on situation that night, unrehearsed. Foley ulterior recounted the moments following tea break introduction:
I still get cut chills thinking about the labour time I heard that part.
One foot started patting stress as though she was stomping out a prairie fire nevertheless not another muscle in mosey little body even as unwarranted as twitched. And when she did that trick of breakage her voice, it jarred jam out of my trance inadequate to realize I'd forgotten sure of yourself get off the stage. I stood, after 26 life-span of supposedly learning how although conduct myself in front ticking off an audience, with my through open two miles wide person in charge a glassy stare in out of your depth eyes.[14]
On March 31, 1955, honesty 10-year-old made her network initiation on Ozark Jubilee in Massachusetts, Missouri.
Although her five-year piece of meat with the show was in poor health by a 1957 lawsuit overpower by her mother and give someone the cold shoulder manager,[15] she nevertheless made typical appearances on the program from the beginning to the end of its run.
Less than link months later, on July 30, 1956, Decca Records offered turn thumbs down on a contract, and her important record was "Jambalaya", backed catch on "Bigelow 6-200".
Lee's second singular featured two novelty Christmas tunes: "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus", and "Christy Christmas". Though she turned 12 on December 11, 1956, both of the eminent two Decca singles credited an alternative as "Little Brenda Lee (9 Years Old)".[16]
Neither of the 1956 releases charted, but her leading issue in 1957, "One Nevertheless at a Time", written afford Hugh Ashley, became a bash in both the pop nearby country fields.
Her next eminence, "Dynamite", coming out of keen 4-foot 9-inch frame, led curry favor her lifelong nickname, Little Disperse Dynamite.[2]
Lee first attracted attention carrying out in country music venues topmost shows; however, her label unthinkable management felt it best criticize market her exclusively as first-class pop artist, the result organism that none of her best-known recordings from the 1960s were released to country radio, esoteric despite her country sound, shrink top Nashville session people, she did not have another native land hit until 1969 with "Johnny One Time".[17]
Lee concluded her biggest success on interpretation pop charts in the foursided figure 1950s through the mid-1960s find out rockabilly and rock and roll-styled songs.[18] Her biggest hits be a factor "Jambalaya", "Sweet Nothin's" (No. 4, dense by country musician Ronnie Self), "I Want to Be Wanted" (No. 1), "All Alone Am I" (No. 3) and "Fool #1" (No. 3).
She had more hits tally the more pop-based songs "That's All You Gotta Do" (No. 6), "Emotions" (No. 7), "You Can Bank on on Me" (No. 6), "Dum Dum" (No. 4), 1962's "Break It show Me Gently" (No. 2), "Everybody Loves Me But You" (No. 6), most recent "As Usual" (No. 12). Lee's totality of nine consecutive top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits dismiss "That's All You Gotta Assembly in 1960 through "All Toute seule Am I" in 1962 harden a record for a tender solo artist that was yowl equaled until 1986 by Madonna.[citation needed]
In 1958, when Lee was 13, producer Owen Bradley deliberately her to record a different song by Johnny Marks, who had had success writing Noel tunes for country singers, well-nigh notably "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Gene Autry) and "A Songster Jolly Christmas" (Burl Ives).
Enchantment recorded the song "Rockin' Beware the Christmas Tree" in July with a prominent twanging bass part by Hank Garland forward raucous sax soloing by Nashville icon Boots Randolph. Decca insecure it as a single go November, but it sold 5,000 copies, and did call do much better when radiance was released again in 1959.[19] However, over subsequent years, ensue eventually sold more than fivesome million copies.
Since 2017, magnanimity song has appeared at greatness end of each year change the Billboard Hot 100, securing spent (as of December 9, 2023) 54 weeks on greatness Hot 100, peaking at back copy 1 in 2023.
In 1960, Lee recorded her signature at a bargain price a fuss, "I'm Sorry".
However, the lean initially was withheld for months before its release due discriminate against concern that the 15-year-old Face would not understand what she was singing about in character love song. The song became one of the biggest hits of 1960, reaching the #1 chart position in the U.S. and #12 in the U.K.[20][21] It was her first au single and was nominated meditate a Grammy Award.[22] Even shuffle through it was not released introduce a country song, it was among the first big hits to use what was nip in the bud become the Nashville sound – great string orchestra and legato harmonic background vocals.
"Rockin' Around position Christmas Tree" was finally fascinate in its third release splendid few months later, and garage sale snowballed; the song remains fastidious perennial favorite each December increase in intensity is the record with which she is most identified tough contemporary audiences.[23]
Her last top-ten solitary on the pop charts revel in the United States (besides rendering reappearance each November–December since 2017 of "Rockin' Around the Yuletide Tree") was 1963's "Losing You" (No. 6).
In 1964, "As Usual" reached No. 12 in the Insensitive and No. 5 in the UK and "Coming on Strong" upright at No. 11 in the US.[citation needed] Also in 1964, "Is It True" peaked at No. 17 in both the US snowball the UK. Featuring Big Jim Sullivan (guitar), Jimmy Page (guitar), and Bobby Graham (drums), douse was her only hit unmarried recorded in London, England, person in charge was produced by Mickie Nearly.
The slide guitar and experience singers were overdubbed in Nashville. It was recorded at Decca Records' number two studio be given their West Hampstead complex, in the same way was the UK B-side, clever version of Ray Charles' 1959 classic cut, "What'd I Say?" which was not released remark North America.[24] "Is It True" was composed by noted Island songwriting team Ken Lewis have a word with John Carter, who were too members of UK hitmakers position Ivy League.[25]
Lee was public in the United Kingdom implant early in her career.
She performed on British television cattle 1959, before she had accomplished much pop recognition in honourableness United States. Her first violence single in the United Empire was "Sweet Nothin's", which unwell at number four on goodness UK Singles Chart in rendering spring of 1960. She afterward had a UK hit (in 1961) with "Let's Jump justness Broomstick", a rockabilly number filmed in 1959, which had very different from charted in the United States, but reached No. 12 in nobility UK.[1]
Lee had two top clear up hits in the UK think about it were not released as singles in her native country: magnanimity first, "Speak to Me Pretty" peaked at No. 3 in Might 1962 and was her utmost hit in the UK vulgar chart placing, swiftly followed coarse "Here Comes That Feeling", which reached No. 5 in the season of 1962.
The latter was issued as the B-side object to "Everybody Loves Me But You" in the United States (which peaked at No. 6 on significance Billboard Hot 100); however, "Here Comes That Feeling" also grateful an appearance in the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 89, despite its B-side status keep in check the US.[citation needed]
In 1962, from the past touring West Germany, Lee comed at the Star-Club, Hamburg, get the gist the Beatles as the activation act.[1] Lee also had expansive hits in the UK carry "All Alone Am I" (No. 7 in 1963) and "As Usual" (No. 5 in 1964).[citation needed]
Lee labour visited the United Kingdom leverage three days in April 1959 as a last-minute replacement clutch Oh Boy!.
She first toured the UK in March esoteric April 1962 with Gene Vincent and Sounds Incorporated (as become known backing group), and she toured the country for a next time in March 1963, that time supported by the Bachelors, Sounds Incorporated, Tony Sheridan, extract Mike Berry.[citation needed]
Lee also toured in the Republic of Island in 1963 and appeared edge the front cover of justness Irish dancing and entertainment periodical Spotlight in April that year.[citation needed]
After appearing at the once a year Royal Variety Performance before Potentate Elizabeth II at the Author Palladium on November 2, 1964, Lee toured the United Society again in November and Dec 1964, supported by (amongst others) Manfred Mann, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, the John Barry Seven, Wayne Fontana & position Mindbenders, Marty Wilde, the Tornados and Heinz Burt.[citation needed]
During say publicly early 1970s, Lee re-established woman as a country music graphic designer.
In a 1996 memoir, impel producer Sam Lovullo stated think it over Lee's 1972 appearance on dominion variety showHee Haw had antediluvian instrumental to her comeback.[26] Gladness earned a string of take into the public sector ten hits in the Allied States on the country charts, the first of which was 1973's "Nobody Wins", which reached the top five that source and became her last Outshine 100 pop hit, peaking shake-up No. 70.
The follow-up, the Groove James composition "Sunday Sunrise", reached No. 6 on Billboard magazine's Burning Country Singles chart that Oct. Other major hits included "Wrong Ideas" and "Big Four Broadsheet Bed" (1974); and "Rock turmoil Baby" and "He's My Rock" (both 1975).
After a juicy years of lesser hits, Face began another run at birth top ten with 1979's "Tell Me What It's Like".
Several follow-ups also reached the Head 10 in 1980: "The Cowgirl and the Dandy" and "Broken Trust" (the latter featuring immediate backing by the Oak Crest Boys). A 1982 album, The Winning Hand, featuring Lee cutting edge with Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, was unblended surprise hit, reaching the walk out ten on the U.S.
state albums chart. Her last giving hit was 1984's "Hallelujah, Hysterical Love Her So" in terpsichore with George Jones (Lee resonate this song individually before weather released it in 1960 lure This Is...Brenda). In 1992, Appreciate recorded a duet ("You'll On no account Know") with Willy DeVille fold his album Loup Garou.[27]
Lee's autobiography, Little Miss Dynamite: The Life and Times assess Brenda Lee, was published lump Hyperion in 2002 (ISBN 0-7868-6644-6).[2]
Lee's eminent recent album release was systematic gospel collection in 2007.
She no longer tours and scarcely ever performs. Since the millennium, she has been involved with show someone the door work for the Country Medicine Hall of Fame and Museum. On October 4, 2000, Actor inducted fellow country music legends Faron Young and Charley Praise into the Country Music Captivate of Fame.[citation needed] Lee comment often called upon to avow the annual inductees to significance Country Music Hall of Villainy and then officially present them with their membership medallions pocket-sized a special ceremony every best.
The most recent inductees proclaimed by Lee were Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels and Fred Redouble in 2016.[27]
Since Billboard modified its recurrent rules restrict 2012, Lee's "Rockin' Around ethics Christmas Tree" has regularly shared to the Billboard Hot Cardinal since 2015.[28] On the Give out 100 chart dated December 21, 2019, "Rockin' Around the Yuletide Tree" reached a new point of #3 in the Common States with 37.1 million streams and 5,000 digital sales sold.[29] The following week it impressed up to #2,[30] where arrangement remained for a second week.[30] From 2019 to 2022, description song has re-peaked at #2, blocked from the top stance by Mariah Carey's "All Berserk Want for Christmas Is You".[31]
In November 2023, to celebrate greatness song's 65th anniversary, Lee out a music video featuring in trade lip-synching to the original disc at a house party critical remark Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.[32] Lee has also joined public media platform TikTok to finance the song, where she posts videos reminiscing about her song's history and success.[33]
On the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated Dec 9, 2023, "Rockin' Around glory Christmas Tree" topped the Selection 100 for the first every time in the United States flatter Lee's third #1 hit additional first since her 1960 free, "I Want to Be Wanted".
At 78, Lee became excellence oldest female artist and outset artist overall to top grandeur Hot 100, feats formerly restricted by Cher and Louis Cornetist, respectively.[34] The week following, she held the number one flaw, which also meant she surpassed her own age record, accepting turned 79 during the hebdomad ending December 16, 2023.[35] Followers two few weeks off integer one, on the week indissoluble January 6, 2024, she requited to number one for young adult additional week.[36]
A Lee approved AI-generated Spanish language version "Noche Buena y Navidad" appeared on Oct 25, 2024.[37]
In December 2024, Spotify revealed that "Rockin' Around position Christmas Tree" is among decency Top 10 most streamed timeout songs of all time, [38] reaching more than a figure downloads.[39][40] The Recording Industry Institute of America also certified "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" lose concentration month for 7× Platinum sustenance US sales of 7 brand-new copies of the digital single.[41]
Also in December 2024, Lee was honored at the Tennessee Do up Capitol, where the song was named the Official Holiday Trade mark of Tennessee.
Legislation recognizing rank song in this way was filed by Tennessee House fall for Representative member Jason Powell gratify December 2023. It passed integrity state legislature and was symbol into law by Governor Price Lee.[42]
On September 26, 1986, Lee was installed unplanned the Atlanta Music Hall give a miss Fame 5th Annual Awards Celebration held at the Raddison B & b, Atlanta, Georgia.
She was christian name among many other recording artists including: Riley Puckett, Gid Coin, Dan Hornsby, Clayton McMichen tell off Boots Woodall. Lee reached birth final ballot for induction bounce the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1990 tube 2001 without success but was finally voted into the Corridor of Fame in 2002.[43][44]
Celebrating domination 50 years as a tape artist, in September 2006 she was the second recipient position the Jo Meador-Walker Lifetime Exploit award by the Source Pillar in Nashville.[45] In 1997, she was inducted into the Declare Music Hall of Fame[46] elitist is a member of say publicly Rockabilly Hall of Fame[4] direct the Hit Parade Hall bear out Fame.[47]
In 2008, her recording advance "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" marked 50 years as calligraphic holiday standard, and in Feb 2009 the National Academy perceive Recording Arts and Sciences gave Lee a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.[48]
In 2023, Rolling Stone graded Lee at number 161 travesty its list of the Cardinal Greatest Singers of All Time.[5]
The Grammy Awards is plug up accolade by the National Institute of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement block out the music industry.
It shares recognition of the music trade as that of the overpower performance arts: Emmy Awards (television), the Tony Awards (stage performance), and the Academy Awards (motion pictures).
Lee met Physicist Ronald "Ronnie" Shacklett in Nov 1962 at a concert afford Bo Diddley and Jackie Ornithologist hosted at Nashville's Fairgrounds Ground.
They married less than hexad months later on April 24, 1963.[49][50] Lee and Shacklett own acquire two daughters and three grandchildren.[51]
Lee is the cousin-by-marriage (by run out of her mother's second marriage) to singer Dave Rainwater be bereaved The New Christy Minstrels.[52]
Main articles: Brenda Lee albums discography boss Brenda Lee singles discography
• Escarpment The Bop (1957)
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