Biography

The singer and songwriter Brenda Holloway was born in 1946 in California. Young Holloway grew up studying a number of different instruments and performing in her local church choir as a child. She began taking the pursuit of a career in music seriously when she was barely into her teens, writing her own music and recording demos when she was only fourteen years old.

By the early 1960’s, Brenda had already released her debut song, “Hey Fool.” At the age of seventeen, Holloway caught the eye of Berry Gordy Jr., who signed her to Motown records before her eighteenth birthday. Under her new contract, Brenda Holloway released her major label debut, “Every Little Bit Hurts,” and the song rose to the number thirteen spot on the mainstream charts in 1964. The next few years were a steady rise to fame for Holloway, with the successful songs “When I’m Gone,” “Operator,” and “Look What You’ve Done.” Brenda’s debut album, also titled Every Little Bit Hurts, also garnered her critical and commercial acclaim.

Since that time, Brenda Holloway has continued to give audiences music which has withstood the test of time, including: The Artistry of Brenda Holloway (1968), All it Takes (1990), It’s a Woman’s World (1999), My Love is Your Love (2003), 20^th Century Masters (2003), and Anthology (2005.) The albums have spawned the singles “Hurt a Little Everyday,” “Just Look What You’ve Done,” “Give Me A Little Inspiration,” and ““You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” the latter of which became an even bigger hit when it was re-recorded by Blood, Sweat, & Tears.