Brenda Lee, the Original 'Miss Dynamite' Quiz

Answer: 1956

Brenda Lee was just eleven years and 10 months old when her first single "Jambalaya" was released on September 17, 1956. Brenda had previously signed a recording contract with Decca Records in May of that year, following which she recorded "Jambalaya" and seven other songs during her first recording session in July 1956.

Answer: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was released as a single in 1958 but did not make the charts in 1958 nor in 1959. It was then re-released in 1960 and became a massive hit this time round. The song has since remained a popular standard and continues to be ever present on the play-lists as each Christmas comes and goes.

Answer: Dynamite

"Dynamite" was released in May 1957, following which she was tagged 'Little Miss Dynamite'. This was particularly apt owing to her dynamic presentation and the fact that she was only 4 ft 9 inches tall.

Answer: Nothin's

"Sweet Nothin's" was released in September 1959 reaching number four on the Billboard charts the following April. The record was also Brenda's first chart success in both the UK and Germany, peaking at number four in the UK and reaching number 34 in Germany.

Answer: I'm Sorry

"I'm Sorry" was released in May 1960 and reached number one on the Billboard charts in July of that year. The song then remained in the Top 100 for more than six months.
It was Brenda's first gold record selling over one million copies, also being nominated for a Grammy award. It's no surprise that this was the song that launched her to international fame.

Answer: The Beatles

Brenda Lee was preceded on stage by a little known rock group from Liverpool throughout her 1960 UK tour. This group was The Beatles, who would shortly become one of the most successful bands ever in the history of popular music.

Answer: Brenda Mae Tarpley

Brenda was born Brenda Mae Tarpley in Atlanta, Georgia, on 11 December 1944.
Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero went on to find fame as Connie Francis, Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie was the birth name of Lulu, whilst Virginia Wynette Pugh was the original name of Tammy Wynette.

Answer: Broomstick

"Let's Jump The Broomstick" was a rockabilly song released by Brenda in April 1959 on the Decca record label. The term 'jumping the broom' is a tradition relating to marriage ceremonies in a number of cultures, particularly in Afro -American communities where couples will often end the wedding rites by jumping over a strategically placed broomstick.

Answer: Yes

Brenda reached the final stages of voting for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in both 1990 and 2001 but was unsuccessful on both occasions. However, she was subsequently installed as a member in 2002.

Prior to this, in 1997 Brenda was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Answer: All Alone am I

In November 1962 Brenda's "All Alone am I" reached number three in the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and then peaked at number seven in the UK singles chart the following February.