b. Brenda Lee Eager, 8th August 1947, Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A.
Brenda Lee Eager hails from Mobile, Alabama.
She spent her early years in the small town of Lower Peach Tree, where she sang in, and attended the local church.
Brenda began songwriting at an early age, and had her own group in her teens.
When she was 17, she sang at her first gig at the Kings Club in Prichard, Alabama.
Brenda then relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where she soon began singing background vocals for Jerry Butler in the group Peaches.
ain't understanding mello b/w windy city soul - 1971 / i'm a lonely woman b/w in my world -1972 / the love we had - 1973 / when i'm with you b/w let me be - 1974
In 1971, she began recording 45's with Jerry, which included her debut 45 'Ain't Understanding Mellow', which proved to be her biggest single to date.
The single reached number 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 21 on the Hot 100, selling one million copies.
The song was also awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A in April 1972.
good old fashioned love b/w i'll get by - 1975 / watch my body talk b/w watch my body talk instr. - 1984
Jerry and Brenda then released a duet version of the Bacharach and David song '(They Long To Be) Close To You', which charted at number 8 on the R&B charts, number 91 on the national charts.
In the early Seventies, Brenda was part of the reverend Jesse Jackson's Operation Breadbasket Choir in Chicago.
Further solo singles followed her duets singles, including 'Good Old Fashioned Lovin'' (for the Playboy Records imprint in 1975) and 'Watch My Body Talk' (for the Private-I Records imprint in 1984).
She also penned the songs 'Why You Wanna Love Me Like That' for The Manhattans and songs for group 3 For 3 (guesting as vocalist on the group's 'My Beloved' in 1990).
Brenda has been a background vocalist for many performers over the years, including: Grey & Hanks, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Womack, Carl Anderson ('Heavy Weather, in 1996), Norman Connors ('Easy Livin'), Ray Charles, Mavis Staples, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Graham Nash, Rodney Franklin, Teena Marie, Najee, Billy Mitchell, Nancy Wilson, Gerald Albright, Prince and Cliff Richard.
As a songwriter, she has penned songs for the likes of Bobby Womack, the Staples Singers, Aretha Franklin, Cliff Richard, Gladys Knight, Shirley Brown and Prince.
startin' over - 2000
In 2000, Brenda released the album, 'Startin' Over' for the BMP imprint.
She has also performed onstage, appearing in the musicals 'The Message is in the Music', (with Della Reese), and 'Wild Woman Blues', (with Maine Weldon).
In 2006, Brenda directed The Heaven on Earth (T.H.E.) Choir at the City of Angels Church in Culver City, California.
grace - the brenda lee eager story - 2010
She also wrote and performed in a one woman musical theatre show based on her own life, entitled 'Grace', which premiered in Los Angeles in 2010.
Albums:
with jerry butler:
The Love We Have (Mercury Records 1974)
solo:
Startin' Over (BMP Records 2000)
