Synopses & Reviews
A TV regular by age 6 . . . the breadwinner by age 10 . . . a national recording artist by age 12 . . . and the largest-selling female performer in the world before age 21 . . . Here's the real story of a true American phenomenon -- Brenda Lee. It's a life that seems destined for a country ballad: Born in the red clay backwoods of Georgia in a tarpaper shack, the daughter of a drunk who couldn't pay for the clothes on her back. But she had the voice of an angel, and before she could drive, she was a national recording star, supported an extended family of ne'er-do-wells, and smiled all the while. In this candid autobiography, Lee recounts her astonishingly dramatic life, filled with early poverty, tragic deaths, a nonexistent childhood, a controlling manager, young elopement, illnesses, barely averted financial disaster, and one of show business's most durable marriages. All the while, "the little girl with the great big voice" kept on singing. Brenda's life has touched some of the most legendary names in the annals of entertainment, from Elvis Presley to Elton John. But her great big voice, filled with courage, determination, and passion, is all her own. No one said it better than John Lennon, who declared that Brenda Lee "has the greatest rock and roll voice of them all." It's a tumultuous life, sprinkled with humor, heartache, and hope, full of real emotional highs and lows. And yet, the real story here is that she is in many ways an Everywoman. This is a mother, a wife, a friend. Meet Brenda Lee.
Synopsis
In this candid autobiography, Brenda Lee recounts her astonishingly dramatic life, filled with early poverty, tragic deaths, a nonexistent childhood, a controlling manager, young elopement, illnesses, barely averted financial disaster, and one of show business's most durable marriages. All the while, "the little girl with the great big voice" kept on singing. of photos.
Synopsis
In this candid autobiography, Lee recounts her astonishingly dramatic life, filled with early poverty, tragic deaths, a nonexistent childhood, a controlling manager, young elopement, illnesses, barely averted financial disaster, and one of show business's most durable marriages. Brenda's life has touched some of the most legendary names in the annals of entertainment, from Elvis Presley to Elton John. It's a tumultuous life, sprinkled with humour, heartache, and hope. And yet, the real story here is that she is in many ways an everywoman.
Synopsis
TV regular by age six; the family breadwinner by age ten; a national recording artist by age eleven; a Vegas headliner at age twelve; a rock 'n' roll sensation by age fifteen; and the largest-selling female performer in the world before she reached the age of twenty-one . . . here's the real story of a true American phenomenon--Brenda Lee. No one said it better than John Lennon, who declared that Brenda Lee 'has the greatest rock and roll voice of them all.'
About the Author
Brenda Lee is one of the most famous and popular female recording stars of all time. She has co-written more than a dozen songs, has writen a volume of poetry, and is the author of a popular cookbook. Brenda has recently been elected to the Board of Trustees of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Co-author Robert K. Oermann is a journalist, music historian, and television producer. He serves on the board of the Recording Academy and is editor-at-large of Country Music and a weekly columnist for Music Row. He has published more than 2,000 articles in over 100 national publications, including USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Us magazine, TV Guide, and The Washington Post. He has produced and/or annotated more than sixty historical reissue albums. This is his seventh book.
Julie Clay is the author of the short story collection The Stars that Shine and serves as a contributing editor to several national lifestyle magazines. With an extensive background in advertising and public relations, she previously served as Executive Director of the Nashville Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. An accomplished pianist and songwriter, she is Brenda Lee's oldest daughter.