The Career and Songs of Brenda Lee Quiz

Answer: Brenda Mae Tarpley

Brenda Mae Tarpley was born December 11, 1944, in Atlanta. She was only 4 pounds 11 ounces at birth and grew to be 4'9". Her father traveled wherever there was work and in 1953 he died after being injured in a construction accident.
When Brenda was six years old she won a talent contest. As a result of becoming the winner she ended up on a local television show and soon began making an income performing at radio shows, television shows and live venues.

Answer: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was Brenda's first US Top Twenty hit. "Dynamite" was released the previous year and earned her the nickname "Little Miss Dynamite". The song only made it to Number 72 in the charts. "One Step at a Time" was a 1957 release that made it to Number 43 on the Pop charts.

Although "Let's Jump the Broomstick" was one of her early Rock-A-Billy standards it failed to chart well in the US when it was released in 1959 but went to Number 12 in the UK. While she was performing on local television shows singer Red Foley was so impressed with Brenda that he convinced his label, Decca Records, to sign her.

She began recording under the direction of Nashville legend Owen Bradley.

Answer: I'm Sorry

"I'm Sorry" topped the charts in June of 1960, becoming Brenda's first US Number One Pop single. The song was recorded earlier in the year but her label had concerns whether it was appropriate for a 15-year-old to be singing such a torch song. "I'm Sorry" was originally released as the B-side of "Just a Little". "I'm Sorry" was co-written by her manager, Dub Albritton, and songwriter Ronnie Self. Self had a minor hit in 1957 with "Bop-A-Lena" and also wrote other hit songs for Brenda including the 1959 Number Four single "Sweet Nothin's".
"I Want to Be Wanted" was originally a song from the soundtrack of "Never on Sunday" (1960). Brenda's rendition topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on October 24, 1960, where it remained for a week.
"Emotions" topped out at Number Seven in 1961.

Answer: The Christmas Song

Brenda has not recorded "The Christmas Song" on either of her two holiday albums. "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Christmas Will Just Be Another Lonely Day" were released by Brenda as singles in 1964. Brenda recorded "Jingle Bell Rock" shortly before Bobby Helms had his hit version but hers did not fare as well in the charts.
In 1964 Brenda released her "Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee" album which has consistently sold well through the years. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" wasn't an immediate success when it was released in 1958 but through the years it became a classic. It was written by Johnny Marks, who also wrote "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". In 1990 "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" was part of the "Home Alone" soundtrack.
Brenda recorded another Christmas album titled "A Brenda Lee Christmas" in 1991.

Answer: Big Four Poster Bed

"Big Four Poster Bed" peaked at Number Four on the US Country charts.
"Rock on Baby", "He's My Rock" and "Nobody Wins" were other Country Top Ten hits for Brenda Lee in the seventies.
In 1972 Brenda released an early version of "Always on My Mind" but it only reached Number 45 on the charts. The song was later became successful for Elvis and Willie Nelson.

Answer: The Oak Ridge Boys

Brenda Lee and the Oak Ridge Boys had a Number Nine US Country hit with "Broken Trust". Two years later she released "Just for the Moment" with The Oak Ridge Boys but it failed to chart.
In 1980 The Oak Ridge Boys topped the Country charts with the crossover hit, "Elvira", also reaching Number Five on the Pop charts.
Early in her career Brenda toured with The Statler Brothers but they never recorded together.
Brenda's final Top Forty Country hit was "A Sweeter Love (I'll Ever Know)" in 1984.

Answer: The Winning Hand

"The Winning Hand" featured Brenda singing a duet with Willie Nelson titled "You're Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning". She also did duets with Kris Kristofferson including "The Bigger the Fool, the Harder the Fall" and Kris' composition, "Help Me Make It Through the Night". Brenda sang "Someone Loves You Honey" and "Bring On the Sunshine". She and Dolly paired for "What Do You Think About Love?".
The album graphics featured the four singers' faces on playing cards.
When Brenda was 18 she wed a contractor named Ronnie Shacklett. One of Ronnie's friends in the construction company was Carl Dean. Carl married Brenda's friend Dolly Parton and both Brenda's and Dolly's marriages have endured.
"Just a Little Love" (1980) was Reba McEntire's seventh album. "Love Songs" was a 1980 Willie Nelson solo album. "For the First Time" was a 1968 album with Brenda and Pete Fountain.

Answer: Smokey and the Bandit II

Brenda Lee portrayed a helpful lady in "Smokey and the Bandit II". The script called for her to say a curse word. Brenda objected to saying the word because her children may have seen her in the film. She asked Jackie Gleason to have the line changed and Jackie convinced Burt to rewrite the line.
While Brenda appeared on numerous television shows during her career she did not consider herself an actress and turned down most movie offers. She was also based in Nashville and was not part of the Hollywood scene.
"The Cannonball Run" came out the following year, "Hooper" was a 1978 release and the first "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977) did not feature an elephant.

Answer: Chuck Berry

"No Particular Place to Go" and "Brenda Lee" were songs recorded by Saint Louis resident Chuck Berry on his 1964 "St. Louis to Liverpool" LP. Brenda was also featured in Golden Earring's 1973 hit, "Radar Love". During the lyrics of the song the singer related that he was listening to "Coming on Strong" by Brenda on his car radio.
Early in her career Brenda performed occasionally with Jerry Lee Lewis, Del Shannon and Dion when she was part of Rock and Roll package tours.

Answer: True

After eleven years of not making the final ballot cuts Brenda was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Her autobiography, "Brenda Lee: Little Miss Dynamite" was also published the same year.
In 1997, Brenda Lee was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Brenda inducted Charlie Pride into the Country Music hall of Fame three years later. She is also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
In 2008, "Rocking' Around the Christmas Tree" celebrated fifty years as a Christmas classic and in 2009 Brenda Lee was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.