"I'm Sorry" Turns 50

It would turn out to be the first of many pop hits for fifteen year old Brenda Lee.

“I’m Sorry” reached the top of the charts-a #1 single for someone not yet voting age, not yet drinking age—and a few inches shy of five feet in height.

No stranger to show business, “Little Miss Dynamite” as she was called—had been a recording artist for five years before scoring that smash hit.

Her story is truly one of rags to riches. Born in the charity ward of an Atlanta hospital in December of 1944, Brenda Mae Tarpley was the daughter of an indigent semi-pro baseball player and part-time carpenter-killed in a construction accident when she was only 8.

To say she was a singing prodigy would be to put it mildly. She was a contestant in—and frequent winner of regional talent competitions. She appeared on local radio and TV programs by the time she got her big break at age 11—when she met country star Red Foley. He invited Brenda onstage to perform Hank Williams’ song “Jambalaya”.The audience went wild—not allowing her to leave the stage until she sang three more songs.

A star was born.

Identified with country and western music, her biggest hits were nonetheless on the pop side, including the perennial holiday classic, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”, which is still one of the most played holiday tunes—and certainly one of the most requested on 94.9 WHOM when we flip to all-Christmas music in November each year.

Although an amazing stage performer—a natural at such a young age, she had an odd fear of bananas. Yes, bananas. Fruit baskets arriving for her use in the dressing room had to be carefully scanned ahead of time and all bananas removed-lest the young star melt into fits of rage.

I’m Sorry!

Here’s a video of the young teenager performing her #1 smash hit, “I’m Sorry”



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEMjeYPfqSg


Brenda Lee was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Throughout the years, she made millions of lifelong fans , including an obscure foursome from Liverpool who OPENED for Lee under the name “The Silver Beetles” during her pre-Beatlemania tour of Great Britain. Only 65, Brenda Lee still regularly performs.

She had 37 chart hits in the 1960’s, surpassed only by Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Connie Francis---and The Beatles.