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.”
Four boys singing in church is the funniest thing I’ve seen. Keep your eyes on the boy in the vest
I must say that this was one of the funniest funny videos I’ve ever seen. and trust me—I’ve been here! Bravo to the gifted boys that assembled this.
I must say that this was one of the funniest funny videos I’ve ever seen. and trust me—I’ve been here! Bravo to the gifted boys that assembled this.
The Christmas scene is set against the perfect backdrop of a nicely adorned stage. Every audience was anticipating what they thought would be a fun, but conventional, holiday church service.
The four lads show up on stage dressed to impress in white shirts, black slacks, and ties. Then it takes place! Comedy follows! It’s not like you could miss the guy wearing the vest and his entertaining actions, so keep an eye on him!
Every minute that goes by, this traditional gospel song gets hilarious. It’s clear the boys are having a blast. The crowd is giggling uncontrollably. These four lads brought the church to tears of laughter with their exuberant entertainment and worship!
A lot of people think that funny clean comedy is extinct these days. These children, however, are not. They’re fantastic. My day was truly made by them. To join in on the fun, watch this funny Christmas performance. utterly wonderful! It was hard for me to stop giggling!
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To be quite honest, my friend, there’s just nothing quite like good, clean humor. the kind that captures the pure joy and spontaneity of life instead of depending on cheap tricks or nasty jokes. Watching these boys perform is like traveling back in time to happier, carefree days when fun was unrestricted and laughing was abundant. These boys truly nailed it.
Now, I really do mean it when I say that the performance was hilarious. The boy wearing the vest is the main attraction; he appears to have no boundaries between his physical appearance and his sense of humor. He is nothing short of brilliant in the way he combines earnest worship with lighthearted pranks.
Imagine a stage with the calm background of a Christmas scene, and then all of a sudden… A hilarious turn of events that leaves everyone clenching their sides. The collective gasp that occurs when the guys’ performance takes an unexpected turn is nearly audible.
Not only are the kids’ antics funny, but the audience’s and the choir’s response makes this a very memorable moment. The room exudes an authentic warmth and happiness that connects with visitors on a personal level. Isn’t it wonderful when comedy can unite people in such a way?
Let’s also discuss the video itself: amazing! This type of material is the kind that gains popularity for all the right reasons. It’s cheerful, invigorating, and ideal for the holidays. Watching these boys bring joy and happiness into a traditional atmosphere makes you grin.
There’s no disputing that these days, it’s uncommon to find this kind of amusement. It serves as a lovely reminder that the most profound happiness can occasionally come from the simplest things. So, believe me when I say that this video is just what you need if you’re having a bad day or just need a good laugh.
These four lads are a brightness in a world when pessimism and doom frequently triumph over comedy. They serve as a reminder of the healing, uniting, and uplifted effects of laughter. See how much fun life can be when we don’t take ourselves too seriously? Just keep an eye on that boy wearing the vest.
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