You may not know Brenda Lee by name, but you’ll recognize her voice the second you hear her 1958 holiday single, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” And, while you might be able to recite the lyrics, there’s a lot you probably don’t know about the song. For example, did you know it wasn’t recorded during the holiday season? Still, the producer tried to create a festive ambiance for the singer by bringing in an actual Christmas tree.
Here’s another interesting tidbit: Brenda Lee was in her tweens when she was selected to provide the vocals for “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” According to her, she still has no idea why songwriter Johnny Marks singled her out. However, after finishing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” he specifically asked for her.
“I was only 12, and I had not had a lot of success in records, but for some reason he heard me and wanted me to do it. And I did,” said the singer, according to The Tennessean.
It took a couple of years for the holiday song to take off, but once it did, it became a staple of the season! In 1960, Lee released a hit titled, “I’m Sorry,” the success of which created interest in her earlier Christmas single. She still loves to perform the yuletide anthem today!
“That’s the magic of a good song, ” she said. “You don’t get tired of singing it.”
Watch the video below to see Brenda Lee’s brand new music video for “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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