This week, Ira spoke with Brenda Lee.
Brenda Lee, who will be performing at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas July 17,has been a star since childhood—releasing her first single hits as a pre-teen, having her first million seller (“I’m Sorry”) at age 16. At 11, she was guesting onstage with Elvis Presley at Nashville’s venerated ‘Grand Ole Opry’ and at 20, she was watching The Beatles open her concerts on a tour across Europe.
Now recognized as a living legend in music, Lee has sold more than 100 million units of her music globally. A generation grew up to her signature hits—“I’m Sorry,” “Break It To Me Gently,” “That’s All You Gotta Do,” “Fool Number One,” “Comin’ On Strong,” and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” –to mention only a few. The latter song—now a Christmas perennial was the #4 Christmas song of the 2014 holiday season according to Billboard—and has each year succeeded in introducing Lee to a new generation of listeners.
A member of both the Rock & Roll and Country Music Halls of Fame, Lee has received four Grammy recognitions and has received both their prestigious “Governors Award” from NARAS as well as the coveted “Lifetime Achievement Grammy.”
Recognized as the top charting female rocker of the 60’s, Lee’s countless awards in the industry include both US and international honors. To date, she has performed in 52 foreign countries and recorded hits in six languages –English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese.
Lee today makes her home in Nashville, serving as an active part of the music community and on the Boards of NARAS and the Country Music Association.
