Brenda Lee’s name may not be as recognizable as some of the other music stars from the 1960s but when you think of Christmas, you’ll know her song, and start humming her catchy tune, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
When Lee, now 78, first hit the stage, she wasn’t old enough to drive but her powerful vocals steered her “unprecedented international popularity” as the most successful female artist of the 1960s.
Lee, whose voice defied her diminutive stature at only 4 foot 9, became a fan favorite when she was only 12.
Brenda May Tarpley, born in 1944, got her start in the late 1940s, became huge in the 1950s, and over her career–that started before she left elementary school–she topped the charts 55 times, earning the title as the most successful female recording artist of the 1960s.
When Lee was only eight (according to Rolling Stone), her father, a construction worker, was killed at work and little Brenda–who then changed her last name to Lee–became the family’s primary provider.

Taking care of her younger brother, big sister, and mother–a cotton mill worker–was not a duty, but something she wanted to do. She said that she was thrilled when she made her first $20, so she could help her family: “Even at that young age, I saw that helped our life,” Lee said, adding “It put some food on the table. It helped, and I loved it.”
The Atlanta-born chanteuse, called a “pioneer of early rock and roll,” by the Georgia Encyclopedia, achieved “unprecedented international popularity in the 1960s.”
But, an incredibly humble human, Lee credits those who helped her achieve her dreams. When Christianity Today asked what she thinks about being a legend, Lee said “I don’t think of myself that way!” She continued, “I’m just a girl who’s been blessed to be doing what I’m doing, and there’s a lot of people who’ve sweated a lot of tears and put a lot of life’s work into me to be able to have my dream. So, if I’m a legend, then they’re legends, too.”
In 1956, the young girl joined country star Red Foley for a show at the Bell Auditorium near her home in Augusta, and she belted out “Jambalaya,” by Hank Williams.

She was then signed to appear on Foley’s Ozark Jubilee, a country music show, where millions of viewers fell in love with the sassy 12-year-old whose talent was developed well beyond her age.
In the same year, Lee signed with Decca Records, and the next year, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and fusing country with rhythm and blues–highlighted by her hiccupping vocals–she recorded early rockabilly classics like “BIGELOW 6-200,” “Little Jonah,” and “Let’s Jump the Broomstick.”
When asked if–when as a young girl–she was nervous performing in front of large crowds, she answered: “No, not really. Nobody ever told me to be nervous. The stage always felt like a hometown to me because I had been in front of people ever since I was 3 years old, singing to people. So it was a very comfortable spot for me.”
In 1957, Lee earned the nickname “Little Miss Dynamite” for her pint-sized powerhouse recording of the song “Dynamite,” and in 1958, fans heard “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree,” a genre and generation-crossing holiday standard, released when she was only 13.
“I knew it was magical,” she told Rolling Stone.
Over the next couple of years, she charted with hits like “Sweet Nuthin’s,” “All Alone Am I,” and “Fool #1.”
Most of her songs, however, contradicted her experience as a young girl. Her mother didn’t let her date and she graduated high school not understanding the heartbreak of young love.

She was only 16 when she said “Love could be so cruel” in the song “I’m Sorry” and only 16 when she said “I want his lips to kiss me” in the song “I Want to be Wanted,” both back-to-back hits when she was still in school.
And when she turned 18, she met Ronnie Shacklett, whom she’s now been happily married to for 60 years.
Life on the road for Lee as a youngster had its difficulties. She celebrated her 12th birthday in Las Vegas and speaking with the Las Vegas Journal, Lee explained her loneliness.
“Of course, I wasn’t even allowed to walk through a casino, I was so young. So I didn’t even know what a casino looked like. They took me into the kitchen, then into the showroom. And then when my show was over, I was brought back out through the kitchen and back up to my room. Children weren’t allowed … in the casino area.” She continued, “There wasn’t anything to do in Vegas for a kid. The most fun I had was on the stage.”
Speaking on what she missed out on as a child, the award-winning Lee said, “Many times, I yearned to be with my friends rather than be out there on the road.”
Turns out she made new friends on the road, like with the music group that opened for her at a 1962 show in Germany. “I hung out with John,” she says effortlessly, speaking of John Lennon. “He was extremely intelligent, very acerbic with his jokes, just a gentle person. When I found out that they later said they were fans of my music, I was just floored.”

A Heartwarming Story That Restores Faith in Humanity

Once in a while, a heartwarming story comes along that reminds us of the power of kindness and the unpredictable twists life takes.
This is one such story that will touch your heart and restore your faith in humanity.
A Simple Act of Kindness
It all started when Brandon, a homeless and poor man struggling to make ends meet, walked into a gas station store. Little did he know that this simple act of kindness would change his life forever.
As Brandon stood in line, he noticed an elderly man having trouble communicating with the cashier. The man didn’t have enough money to buy a bottle of water, which he needed to take his pills. The cashier was rude and refused to help him, and the other customers in line were equally unsympathetic.
Unable to ignore the situation, Brandon approached the cashier and offered to pay for the elderly man’s water. In that moment, Brandon showed compassion and reminded us all of the importance of helping those in need.
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NewsA Heartwarming Story That Restores Faith in Humanity
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Once in a while, a heartwarming story comes along that reminds us of the power of kindness and the unpredictable twists life takes.
This is one such story that will touch your heart and restore your faith in humanity.
A Simple Act of Kindness
It all started when Brandon, a homeless and poor man struggling to make ends meet, walked into a gas station store. Little did he know that this simple act of kindness would change his life forever.
As Brandon stood in line, he noticed an elderly man having trouble communicating with the cashier. The man didn’t have enough money to buy a bottle of water, which he needed to take his pills. The cashier was rude and refused to help him, and the other customers in line were equally unsympathetic.
Unable to ignore the situation, Brandon approached the cashier and offered to pay for the elderly man’s water. In that moment, Brandon showed compassion and reminded us all of the importance of helping those in need.
An Unexpected Twist
The elderly man was grateful for Brandon’s kindness, and they left the store together. Little did Brandon know that this encounter would lead to a life-changing event.
The next day, Brandon received an unexpected visit from a man dressed in a fancy suit. He introduced himself as Mr. Grives’s representative and handed Brandon an envelope. Inside was a letter from Mr. Grives, expressing gratitude for Brandon’s kindness and offering him something unimaginable – his company.
Facing Challenges
Mr. Grives had been looking for someone with a good heart to inherit his business, as he had lost faith in his own selfish son. However, Brandon soon realized that inheriting a company comes with its own challenges.
An enemy of the family, Christopher, who was Mr. Grives’s son, wanted to take control of the company and would stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Christopher resorted to blackmail and extortion, leaving Brandon and his family in a precarious situation.
But Brandon, being no stranger to the struggles of life, wasn’t about to give up. With the help of the FBI, Brandon devised a plan to outsmart Christopher. In the end, justice prevailed, and Christopher was arrested for his crimes.
The Power of Love and Support
Through it all, Brandon’s love for his children remained unshakeable. He taught them that true wealth lies in the love and support they have for each other, not in material possessions.
This heartwarming story serves as a reminder that kindness can lead to unexpected rewards and that a strong family bond is a treasure that no one can take away. It’s a story that deserves to be shared and celebrated, for it shows us the power of compassion and resilience.
Make a Difference with Kindness
So, next time you see someone in need, remember the story of Brandon and the elderly man at the gas station. A small act of kindness can make a world of difference and may even change your life in ways you could never imagine.
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