Brenda Lee, real name Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) was an american teen idol and is currently a touring country singer, who was immensely popular during the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1960s she had more charted hits than any other woman, and only three male singers/groups (Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and The Beatles) outpaced her. She was one of the earliest pop stars to have a major contemporary international following.

She was given the nickname Little Miss Dynamite after recording Dynamite in 1957; the explosive strength of the sound pouring out of her small frame amazed audiences and promoters. Her general popularity faded as her voice suffered damage and matured in the late 1960s, but she successfully continued her recording career by returning to her roots as a country singer. She was able to chart in Billboard’s CW top ten twice in 1980.

She enjoys one distinction unique among successful american singers: her opening act on a UK ... read more »