Little Miss Dynamite: The Life and Times of Brenda Lee (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Robert K. Oermann (Author), Julie Clay (Author) "All my life, whenever I'd go back to Georgia, I would get this feeling of sadness, like I'd lost something and could never find it..." (more)
Key Phrases: country hit parade, pop hit parade, music reporter, Brenda Lee, Dub Allbritten, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Brenda Lee is one of those inescapable musical personalities known primarily for a seasonal hit record no longer than two minutes long yet still a recognizable name 40 years after its release. That hit, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," was recorded when she was only 16 and remains a joyous expression of rock's formative years. With Oermann, editor at large for Country Music magazine, and Clay, the singer's daughter, Lee fleshes out her years in the entertainment business. Born in a Georgia tarpaper shack, she quickly became a child star among the musical elite of her time and suffered the usual show business pitfalls a bad manager, brushes with financial ruin, and illness. Unfortunately, the details of Lee's first-rate rockabilly recordings of the early 1960s are largely passed over in favor of more sensationalistic matters. After her brief pop career, Lee made a big name for herself in country music, so libraries in the South may experience demand. Popular music collections with concentrations on women in music can consider, but others will probably pass. Caroline Dadas, Hickory Hills, IL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Lee began in stereotypically classic-country-music circumstances: dirt-poor family, drunken dad, tar-paper shack--hard to get much more down-home than that. Her first chart success came in 1957 with "One Step at a Time," and she skyrocketed to number one in 1960 with "I'm Sorry," which made "Little Miss Dynamite" ("Dynamite" was an early single of hers) a worldwide phenomenon. The brief discography here describes her career in shorthand, as pop, country, and "Xmas" charting records give way over time to country and "A/C" (adult/contemporary) charters: "today's teen idol is tomorrow's A/C act," Lee observes. Still, in testimony to her broad, continuing appeal, "I'm Sorry" hit number one in France as late as 1978. Seems only right that she is in the Country Music Hall of Fame and has been nominated for its rock-and-roll analog. Although it is almost morbidly upbeat, what with its cheerful nods to almost everyone she mentions, Lee's autobiography is another welcome brick for the foundation of any thorough pop-music book collection. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (March 6, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786866446
• ISBN-13: 978-0786866441
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #673,952 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE LITTLE LADY WITH THE POWERFUL VOICE!, March 20, 2002

By	Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Any one growing up in the fifites and sixties will remember the powerful voice of Brenda Lee. To say that is was, indeed, dynamite, is no exaggeration. This book is a typical "rags to riches story", but Brenda, herself, is strong woman who has overcome some extremely significant challenges in her lifetime. From her childhood poverty, to the manager she trusted who left her virtually financially destroyed in the seventies, Brenda tells it all - the good, the bad, the trust and betrayal, her day in the sun and her illness - this is her story. For those of us who are today's baby boomers, we look back at that time of our youth, when rock 'n roll was what made the world go round, and often we hear a name and say, "I wonder whatever happened to...." Brenda Lee, is a name most of us no longer think about on a daily basis, but every now and then we hear a golden oldie, such as "I'm Sorry" and we remember Brenda Lee. The book is filled with information told as only Brenda could tell it and the book is highly recommended reading material for those of us who like to "remember when."

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Waited For This One For a Long Time!, February 26, 2002

By A Customer

A life-long fan of Brenda Lee, I bought this book the day that it hit first hit the bookstore ... I have always felt that Brenda's story should be told and have known it was in the works ... Written in a style that was highly "conversational," the book makes the reader feel that they are sitting at a table in an informal chat with the author. Having followed her career for at least 35 years, I found the book fascinating. I had my nose in it for three straight days, every time that I had a free minute, until it was finished. The stories that dealt with Dub Albritton, her manager, who used every piece of energy he had to promote her and then, was found to have mismanaged her funds; her statements about extreme poverty as a child, even when her early image screamed "success"; and the telling of how her marriage to Ronnie Shacklett has stayed strong from her late teens until present day all were total highlights of an excellent read. I plan to read it again within the month. The true and avid fan of Brenda Lee can't afford to miss this one!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, April 9, 2002

By	thesavvybamalady "swblkdiamond" (Prichard, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews

I really wasn't into this book until I watched this documentary on PBS on women who sang rockabilly music, and I had noticed her auto at the library, so I checked it out and here I am giving a review. It is not fortunate for child stars to grow up and become normal,productive adults. If anything, they are scarred, eccentric, or trying to relive their glory days. But with this lady, you have a woman who just happened to be a child star, survived the business despite her controlling manager, bad business moves, and illnesses. She has turned out into a gracious lady and her book is really great. If you are looking to go back into memory lane to the the good ol' days, well this is the book for you. A great book by a great American lady.