Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee was born on December 11, 1944 in Lithonia, Georgia, USA as Brenda Mae Tarpley. She has been married to Ronnie Shacklett since April 24, 1963. They have 2 children. Brenda's parents, Grayce and Reuben, were poor but managed to support their children through carpentry and long hours in the Georgia cotton mills. Brenda sang from the time she was a baby. When her sister entered her into a talent contest when she was three, Brenda won. She continued to sing at local halls and baseball games. When she was only eight years old, Brenda's loving father was tragically killed in a construction accident. Brenda's singing jobs became necessary to the financial survival of her family.Brenda and her mother Grayce worked tirelessly getting Brenda singing jobs. A local DJ named Peanuts Fairclough shortened her name from Brenda Mae Tarpley to Brenda Lee saying that it would be easier to remember when she was famous. Brenda's mother remarried a man named Jay Rainwater who opened a record store where Brenda sang on weekends. Her first break came in 1955 when she was only ten. She turned down a performing gig in order to meet Country & Western star Red Foley.Foley put her on his popular country music television show, Ozark Jubilee, "The Junior Jamboree" edition, and Brenda was a sensation when she sang songs like "Jambalya" and the explosive, "Dynamite." From that day on, Brenda was nicknamed, Little Miss Dynamite. In 1957, the family eventually moved to Nashville where Brenda was taken under the wing of manger Dub Allbritten and the legendary producer Owen Bradley. These two men were both very loving father figures in her life. Young Brenda toured the country with stars like Patsy Cline, Mel Tillis, and George Jones. By 12, she starred at the Grand Ole Opry and in Vegas. Even though 15-year-old Brenda was touring the world and singing her heart out, Brenda, her mother, her brother and two sisters were forced to live in a trailer park on 75 dollars a month. In 1960, Brenda hit the top of the charts with "I'm Sorry." It was her biggest hit to date and won her both a Grammy nomination and a gold record. She petitioned the court to let her have a little more money and get her family out of the trailer park. She won and bought her mom a house, which subsequently burned down. Brenda continued to perform and tour at a relentless pace. Her 1989 appearance on K.D. Lang's album Shadowland gave her yet another Grammy nomination. In 1998, Owen Bradley died, and Brenda was completely devastated. She mustered every fiber in her being to sing "There Will Be Peace In the Valley" at his funeral. In 1999, Brenda was diagnosed with cysts on her vocal chords. Facing surgery that may permanently damage her vocal chords, Brenda chose instead to take time off and rest. Although not cured, the damage has been halted. Still married to her loving Ronnie and with her children close by, Brenda continues to sing her heart out for audiences all over the world. She is still "Little Miss Dynamite."She has been singing since 1955

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