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Brenda Lee: Red Foley
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Petite but powerful, 12 year-old Brenda Lee reached a national audience on Red Foley's Ozark Mountain Jamboree, where she was known as "Little Brenda Lee." Her first recording, a cover of Hank Williams' Jambalaya, made it into the country charts. The following year One Step at a Time marked her initial appearance on the pop charts.
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Brenda and her mother Grayce worked tirelessly getting Brenda singing jobs. A local DJ named Peanuts Fairclough shortened her name from Brenda Mae Tarpley to Brenda Lee saying that it would be easier to remember when she was famous. Brenda's mother remarried a man named Jay Rainwater who opened a record store where Brenda sang on weekends. Her first break came in 1955 when she was only ten. She turned down a performing gig in order to meet Country & Western star Red Foley. He was blown away by the little girl's incredibly powerful voice. Foley put her on his television show, "The Junior Jamboree," and Brenda was a sensation when she sang songs like "Jambalya" and the explosive, "Dynamite."
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After this show, Brenda was offered a guest spot on Foley's Ozark Jubilee. On Saturday, March 31, 1956, Brenda made her first network television appearance on the Ozark Jubilee from Springfield, Missouri. Brenda sang "Jambalaya" on the Junior Jubilee portion which featured younger talent. The producers of the show received three times the day's usual fan mail with nearly all asking to see Brenda on the show again. Also, Jack O'Brien, a New York columnist for the Journal American opened his TV review by saying that "I didn't catch the name of the 9-year-old singer on last night's Ozark Jubilee but she belts a song like a star." This led to bookings on the Perry Como Show and other national TV shows. The family moved to Springfield and Brenda became a regular on the Ozark Jubilee.
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With the help of a local DJ, Lee was introduced to Red Foley during February 1956. Foley was so impressed with Lee's talent, that shortly thereafter, the family moved to Springfield, Missouri so Lee could become a regular performer on Foley’s Ozark Jubilee TV show. This led to appearances on network TV shows hosted by Perry Como, Ed Sullivan, and Steve Allen. Dub Allbritten, Foley’s manager, became Lee’s personal manager in 1956 and remained in that position throughout her formative years.
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Appearing in radio and on local television stations as a youngster, Brenda made the acquaintance of country music icon Red Foley. Through Foley, her first network television appearance came on March 31, 1956 at the tender age of 11. She signed her first recording contract with Decca Records that same year.
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On a whimsical note, [A] miniature rose was named for Brenda Lee by the American Rose Society in 1990. The 'Brenda Lee' rose is yellow with pink to red edges, depending on the amount of sun it receives. In the words of the Rose Society, it is described as, "A Little Beauty That Is Exceptionally Hearty, Smaller Than Other Miniature Roses, And An All-Round Winner!" Obviously, a perfect tribute to it's namesake.
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Red Foley