Brenda Lee

Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944) known professionally as Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Known for her musical versatility, she had commercial success with recordings in the genres of pop, country, rock and roll and gospel. She was also one of the best-selling music artists of the 1960s. Her Christmas song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (1958) reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in December 2023 after a music video was released for the song, making Lee the oldest artist ever to reach number 1 the chart. She has been inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lee was considered a child prodigy for her ability to sing from a young age. After making appearances on 1950s television programs, she signed a recording contract with Decca Records (later named MCA) at age 11. Her earliest recordings were rock and roll, first achieving a commercial breakthrough with "Sweet Nothin's" (1959). Her music shifted towards pop after reaching number 1 with "I'm Sorry" (1960). That year, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was re-released and became a commercial success for the first time. This new style appealed to teens and adults. Lee had a series of Top 10 hits in multiple countries including "Fool No. 1" (1961), "Break It to Me Gently" (1961), "All Alone Am I" (1962) and "Losing You" (1963). Her single "One Rainy Night in Tokyo" (1965), recorded in Japanese reached the Top 10 in Japan. Lee then experimented with different musical styles, including an album of New Orleans music titled For the First Time (1968) and a soul-inspired project titled Memphis Portrait (1970). After several personal challenges, Lee was reinvented as a country music artist in adulthood. This began with the country song, "Nobody...