Brenda Lee is a popular singer, composer and songwriter. Brenda is one of those who became famous in the mid-1950s on the foreign stage. The singer has made a huge contribution to the development of pop music. The track Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is still considered her hallmark.
A distinctive feature of the singer is a miniature physique. She looks like a little Thumbelina. Despite all the tenderness and fragility, the character of Brenda Lee can hardly be called complaisant and calm. Behind her back, the woman was simply called "Little Miss Dynamite."
Childhood and youth Brenda Lee
Brenda May Tarpley (real name of a celebrity) was born back in 1944 in the city of Atlanta. Interestingly, at the time of birth, Brenda Lee weighed only 2 kilograms. Doctors said that she had no chance of life. And if she is lucky enough to live, then she will constantly get sick.
Having become famous, the woman said that she was raised in the poorest family in her area. She slept in the same bed with her brothers and sisters. Often the girl fell asleep hungry. My parents were constantly looking for work. Money was sorely lacking.
The head of the family is Ruben Tarpley. He came from a simple farmer's family in Georgia. He spent a long time in the army of the United States of America. By the way, his height was only 170 centimeters, but this did not prevent him from playing basketball excellently. Mother also came from a family of ordinary workers and could not boast of either “blue blood” or the presence of at least some kind of dowry.
Despite the fact that Brenda Lee was a petite girl with a small weight, this did not prevent her from unleashing her creative potential. Already at the age of 5, she delighted her neighbors with amazing impromptu performances.
Mom talked about how Brenda had a well-trained voice and good hearing. Already after the first listening to the composition, she could easily whistle it. The girl, along with her brothers and sisters, earned money by singing near a candy store. Often they left not only with money, but also with sweets.
At the age of 6, the girl won her first victory in a music competition. This inspired the little Brenda to develop further.
The creative path of Brenda Lee
Brenda's professional entry into the music arena took place in 1955. It was then that Red Fuli (singer and radio host) invited the girl to take part in the filming of the popular television project Ozark Jubilee. The audience was beside themselves when they heard a ten-year-old girl sing. Many could not believe that Brenda was singing without a backing track. But it was. Immediately after the performance, she was offered to sign a contract alone with recording studios.
Actually, from that moment Brenda's professional singing career began. By the way, critics divide the singer's work into two periods. At the first stage, she performed tracks in the rock and roll genre, and later - in the country pop genre. By the end of the 1950s, her divine voice was known far beyond the borders of her homeland. Compositions performed by Brenda sounded on television and radio.
The end of the 1950s was difficult for Brenda. The thing is, her father passed away. Now she became responsible for the financial situation of the family. A significant role in the creative biography of the performer was played by Dub Albriten. He made Brenda a regular partner for Red Foley. With him, the singer traveled all over Europe.
The peak of the singer's popularity was in the 1960s. Her compositions Jambalaya, I Want to Be Wanted, All Alone Am I and That's All You Gotta Do did not leave radio stations and prestigious charts.
Brenda Lee's voice has undergone changes over time - it has become more gentle and melodic. The vocal "transformation" only benefited the singer's compositions. Lyrical songs sounded especially good in her performance.
She toured the UK in the early 1960s. It is noteworthy that Brenda Lee's concert tickets sold out instantly. Once, the cult band The Beatles performed on her “heating”. Celebrities then exchanged fans and their popularity increased.
Landmark Debut
Soon the singer presented one of the most legendary songs of her repertoire. We are talking about the composition I'm Sorry. This track was warmly received by fans and music critics.
Another presented song has become an ideal example of presentation for aspiring singers. Brenda Lee, with her inherent sensuality and power, presented the composition I'm Sorry in such a way that many critics had no questions. Her performance did not leave indifferent any music lover. The performance of the presented track gave the singer the prestigious Grammy Award.
Soon Brenda Lee told her fans that from now on she can be safely called a "country artist". The "fans", who loved the singer's work, became even more interested in Brenda's repertoire. In the 1970s, she tested her strength as an actress. Lee starred in the movie Smokey and the Bandit 2.
For a long creative career, the celebrity has recorded three dozen full-length albums. The real gem of this "golden collection" was the disc This is... Brenda. Brenda presented this collection to music lovers in the 1960s of the last century. But her last LP came out in 2007. Celebrities managed to sell over 100 million copies of albums.
Brenda Lee is direct proof that a woman can brilliantly cope with such musical genres as country and rock and roll. Often men work in these areas.
Personal life of the artist
Brenda Lee sings about unrequited love in her compositions. The woman says that her work is not intertwined with her personal life. She was lucky to meet a man with whom she has been in a warm relationship for several decades. Brenda is in a strong alliance with Ronnie Shacklet.
The future husband noticed a miniature woman at one of her concerts. He plucked up the courage to meet a charming singer. And six months later, the man proposed to her. The couple had twins Julie and Jolie.
Brenda Lee is currently
In 2008, the recording of the legendary composition and at the same time Brenda Lee's calling card Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Lyrics turned 50 years old. A year later, the National Academy of Arts presented the artist with another Grammy Award.
Brenda is also a happy grandmother. Increasingly, she spends time away from the stage, paying attention to the upbringing of three grandchildren. The celebrity has a luxurious country house where her family gathers.
The singer does not stop her creative career. She continues to delight fans with live performances. For example, in 2018, she held concerts at the Tennessee venue in America. At the same time, the schedule of winter concerts appeared, which took place already in 2019.
