R
In 1958, Brenda Lee released the popular Christmas song, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which has become a staple during the holiday season. It is often heard playing on radios, in stores, and at bars. The song, which was also featured in the 1990 film Home Alone, is undeniably festive with its upbeat rock sound and lyrics like, “Deck the halls with boughs of holly.”
After 65 years since its initial release, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree has finally reached the top spot on the US chart. Lee, who is now 79 years old, shared her excitement over a Zoom call from her home in Nashville, stating, “It’s been quite a week!” This achievement also makes her the oldest person to reach No 1 on the US chart, surpassing Louis Armstrong who was 63 when his song “Hello, Dolly!” topped the charts in 1964.
At the young age of 13, Lee recorded the song on October 19, 1958. Prior to recording, producer Owen Bradley ensured that she was well-prepared by having her learn the song thoroughly. In the studio, she was able to nail it in only three takes. Lee recalls that Bradley had the air conditioning set to zero and had a Christmas tree and musicians wearing Santa hats, creating a magical atmosphere for a teenager.
The song was written by Johnny Marks, who also penned festive favourites Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Holly Jolly Christmas. “When it became a hit I said to him: ‘Johnny, you’re Jewish, you don’t even believe in Christmas.’ He said: ‘Well I do now!’”
The song was initially released in 1958 but did not gain popularity until 1960, after Lee’s two number one hits that year (I’m Sorry and I Want to Be Wanted) had established her as a major star. Lee’s signature raspy voice adds a unique touch to the song, which touches on timeless themes of Christmas such as togetherness, family, and nostalgia. However, despite the song’s enduring popularity, Lee herself is unsure of why it has resonated with audiences for so long. She describes this year as “surreal” and reflects on reliving the success of the 1960s. She is grateful for her loyal fans and acknowledges the support of her record company, whom she has been with since she was just 10 years old. Lee credits the song’s longevity to the talent of the songwriters and believes that a good song will always stand the test of time.
Brenda Mae Tarpley, later known as Lee, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent her childhood living in homes without basic amenities like plumbing and running water, and shared a bed with her siblings. Despite these challenging living conditions, Lee credits them with shaping her as a person. She also speaks fondly of her mother, and while her father passed away, she has cherished memories of him. Lee’s passion for singing has always been genuine, and she believes that people appreciate authenticity.
At a venue known as the Sports Arena, where her mother was a dancer, she made her debut performance in front of an audience. This led to her becoming a regular on the television show TV Ranch, which aired from Atlanta and focused on country music. This is how she began her career in Georgia. Sadly, her father passed away in a construction accident when she was only eight years old. She fondly remembers him as a quiet and hard-working man, and she still misses him. He used to call her “Booty Mae,” a nickname that she doesn’t understand the origin of. Despite his absence, she believes he would be proud of her.
Following her father’s passing, she took on the role of providing for her family and began performing at the age of nine. She nonchalantly states, “You feel eager to do it, and then you’ve done it, and then you go play in the mud.” Her appearance on the television program Ozark Jubilee, which aired from Missouri, propelled her into the national spotlight and ultimately led to a deal with Decca Records. “I’m not sure if I fully grasped the magnitude of it all,” she reflects. “I never concerned myself with the business side of things. I simply adored singing.”
During the peak of the 1950s rock’n’roll craze, she went on tour with Jerry Lee Lewis. She recalls, “He was quite the wild man. No one had ever witnessed that level of energy on stage before. He would even have fans ripping chairs out of the concrete floors in auditoriums.” Fortunately, when it was her turn to perform, the seats were still intact. “I wouldn’t have wanted to go on after him,” she chuckles.
Her early fans included Elvis Presley, who loved her mix of rockabilly and country and saw her perform at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. She still treasures a photograph she has of them together. “We had a connection because he wasn’t putting it on,” she says. “He was a poor boy from the south who loved his mama and wanted to do good for her.”
As her success grew, she went on tour with Gene Vincent, who she described as “gentle, but crazy.” She also had the opportunity to perform at the Star-Club in Hamburg, where the Beatles were the opening act. She recalls being amazed by their songs, which she had never heard before. She asked John Lennon where they got their songs, and he casually replied that they wrote them. She was impressed and even asked for a tape to take back to her record company. Although they were rejected, it was clear that the Beatles were destined for stardom. In fact, Lennon later praised Lee as “The greatest rock’n’roll voice of them all.”
According to Lee, Judy Garland once advised her to not let anyone take away her childhood. Despite being surrounded by drugs, alcohol, and scandal, Lee maintains that she was never part of it all, attributing her humble upbringing and the support of “good people” for keeping her grounded. She also credits her 60-year marriage to Ronnie Shacklett for helping her stay on the right path. They met at a Jackie Wilson concert and got married when she was only 18 years old. Despite facing opposition from her family and management due to her young age and career, their marriage has proven to be successful with two daughters and three grandchildren. For Lee, a successful marriage takes effort and commitment, and she believes that it can work as long as both parties are willing to put in the work.
She continues to be a source of inspiration for younger artists. At 18 years old, Taylor Swift wrote a tribute to her called Rare Peer, which was later published in the 2017 book Woman Walk the Line. Swift wrote, “There is a reason why she has been able to captivate audiences for almost 60 years. Brenda Lee embodies grace, class, and composure. She is someone I will always admire for the way she shines. As Johnny Cash said in 1983, it’s as if she is made of gold.”
“I believe I will include that in my epitaph!” exclaimed Lee after I shared it with her. “I may not have finished my journey, but Taylor is truly remarkable. I first crossed paths with her when she was only 11 years old. Even then, she displayed an impressive level of intelligence and maturity. She had a clear direction in life and she has certainly achieved it.”
During the 1960s, Lee held the record for having the most US Hot 100 singles, with a total of 46. Only Presley, the Beatles, and Ray Charles had more during that decade. Additionally, Lee has sold over 100 million records. However, her song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has become her most successful and well-known hit.
The melody has been performed numerous times, with notable versions by artists such as Kim Wilde, Mel Smith (whose rendition reached the third spot on the UK charts in 1987), and more recently Kacey Musgraves and Camila Cabello in 2019, and Justin Bieber in 2021. Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be singing it during her current tour, while Yorkshire folk singer Kate Rusby has included it in her latest album, Light Years.
This year, a new video featuring Lee, a popular TikTok clips and appearances by Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood, along with a Christmas tree, helped the song gain widespread popularity. Lee shared that the video was created with a mix of seriousness and humor, and she had a great time filming it. While she is no longer touring, she remains connected to the music industry and admires artists such as Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves. She occasionally makes appearances in Nashville when asked, and most recently, a video of her singing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” on a flight became viral.
The speaker describes a rough flight where many people were feeling uneasy. In the midst of the turbulence, someone requested that Brenda sing. Despite the chaotic circumstances, Brenda’s rendition of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” still evoked feelings of nostalgia. The speaker shares that Brenda has always enjoyed performing for others and is always happy to do so if given the opportunity.
Source: theguardian.com
