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In 1958, Brenda Lee recorded the popular holiday song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, which has become a staple on radio stations, in stores, and in pubs during the holiday season. The song, which was also featured in the 1990 movie Home Alone, is unmistakably festive with its upbeat rock and roll rhythm and classic lyrics like “Deck the halls with boughs of holly”.
After 65 years since it was initially released, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree has finally reached the number one spot on the US chart. During a Zoom call from her home in Nashville, 78-year-old Lee expressed her excitement, exclaiming “It’s been a week, I tell you!” This achievement also makes her the oldest person to have a US chart-topping hit, 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, the producer Owen Bradley ensured that she was well prepared by having her learn the song thoroughly. In the studio, she was able to perform it perfectly in just three takes. Lee fondly recalls the special atmosphere created by Bradley, with the air conditioning turned off, a Christmas tree in the studio, and all the musicians wearing Santa hats. She found it to be a truly magical experience at such a young age.
The author of the song is Johnny Marks, who also composed popular holiday tunes such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Holly Jolly Christmas. When the song became popular, I jokingly told him, “Johnny, you’re Jewish, you don’t even celebrate Christmas.” To which he replied, “Well, I do now!”
The song was first released in 1958, but didn’t become popular until 1960 when Lee had two number one hits (I’m Sorry and I Want to Be Wanted) that year, making her a major star. Lee’s unique singing style adds to the timeless Christmas themes of togetherness, family, and nostalgia in the song. Despite her confusion about why the song has remained so popular, she sees it as a good mystery. This year has been surreal for her, as she feels like she is reliving the 1960s. She is incredibly grateful to her fans and has been with the same record company since she was just ten years old. She believes that having amazing songwriters has contributed to the enduring success of the song.
Brenda Mae Tarpley, who later became known as Lee, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent her childhood in homes without basic amenities like plumbing and running water, and shared a bed with her siblings. Despite the challenging living conditions, Lee credits these experiences for shaping her into the person she is today. She also had a loving mother and father until her father’s passing. Lee developed a passion for singing, and believes that being genuine is what resonates with people.
At a local ballroom called the Sports Arena, her mother, who was a dancer, allowed her to go on stage and perform in public for the first time. After that, she regularly appeared on a country music show called TV Ranch, which aired from Atlanta. This is how her career began in Georgia. Sadly, her father passed away in a construction accident when she was only eight years old. She remembers him as a quiet, hardworking, and handsome man. He used to call her “Booty” or “Booty Mae,” and she doesn’t know why. She still misses him, but she believes he would be proud of her.
Following her father’s passing, she took on the responsibility of providing for her family and began performing at the age of nine. “You feel enthusiastic about doing it, then you’ve done it,” she nonchalantly states, “then you go have fun outdoors.” Another popular television program called Ozark Jubilee, which aired from Missouri, launched her into the spotlight and ultimately resulted in a record deal with Decca. “I’m not sure if I fully grasped the extent of it all,” she reflects. “I never concerned myself with the business side of things. I simply loved to sing.”
In the 1950s, she went on tour with Jerry Lee Lewis during the peak of the rock’n’roll craze. She describes Lewis as a wild performer, with an unmatched energy on stage. He would even have audience members pulling chairs out of concrete floors in auditoriums. Luckily, when it was her turn to perform, the seats were still intact. She jokes that she wouldn’t want to perform after him.
Elvis Presley was among her first supporters, drawn to her unique blend of rockabilly and country music. He witnessed her talents at a performance in the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. She holds onto a cherished photo of the two of them together. She explains that their bond stemmed from Elvis’ authenticity and genuine love for his mother, as he was a humble southern boy driven to make her proud.
As she found success, she joined Gene Vincent on tour and performed at the Star-Club in Hamburg with the Beatles as the opening act. During her time there, she was amazed by the songs they played and asked John Lennon where they got them from. He casually replied that they wrote them themselves. Despite being turned down by Decca, the Beatles were clearly destined for stardom. Lennon even praised Lee as having “the greatest rock’n’roll voice of them all.”
Judy Garland once told Lee to hold onto her childhood, and she has followed that advice. Despite being exposed to it, Lee never succumbed to the temptations of alcohol, drugs, or scandal. She credits her humble upbringing and the good influences around her for keeping her grounded. Her mother’s words of “Don’t forget where you come from” have also played a role. Lee has been married to Ronnie Shacklett for 60 years and their relationship has been a source of support and stability. They met at a Jackie Wilson concert and Lee knew he was the one. Although her family and management did not approve of their marriage at first, they have proven them wrong. They have two daughters, Jolie and Julie, and three grandchildren. Lee believes that a successful marriage takes effort and dedication, and she is grateful for the love and respect she shares with her husband.
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. In the tribute, Swift wrote about how Brenda Lee has been able to captivate audiences for nearly 60 years with her grace, class, and composure. She also shared that she will always admire Brenda Lee for her shining presence. As Johnny Cash once said in 1983, it’s as if she radiates a golden aura.
“Wow, that’s going on my tombstone!” exclaimed Lee as I shared it with her. “Even though she’s still growing, Taylor is truly remarkable. I first crossed paths with her when she was just 11 years old. Despite her young age, she displayed maturity, intelligence, and a clear sense of direction. And now, she has achieved incredible success.”
During the 1960s, Lee achieved 46 singles on the US Hot 100 chart, second only to Presley, the Beatles, and Ray Charles. Her record sales have surpassed 100 million. However, her song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has become her most successful.
The melody has been performed numerous times, with notable renditions by Kim Wilde and Mel Smith (peaking at No 3 in the UK in 1987), as well as more recent covers by Kacey Musgraves and Camila Cabello (2019), and Justin Bieber (2021). Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be performing it on her current tour, and Yorkshire folk singer Kate Rusby includes it on her latest album, Light Years.
This year, TikTok videos and a new video featuring Lee, a Christmas tree (of course), and cameos by country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood helped the song gain widespread attention. According to Lee, the video was made seriously but also had a playful tone. “We had a great time,” she says. Although she is no longer touring, she remains connected to the music industry and looks up to artists like Swift and Musgraves. She has retired from touring but still occasionally performs: “Living in Nashville, I am often asked to do things, so that keeps me busy.” Most recently, a video of her singing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” on a flight went viral as well.
“We hit a lot of turbulence and people were uncomfortable,” she explains. “Somebody yelled out: ‘Brenda, get up and sing.’ So I did.” Such is the potency of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, you can get a sentimental feeling even when being bumped around at 30,000 feet. “I’ve always loved to sing for people,” she says. “All I need is an invitation.”
Source: theguardian.com
