Born June 26, 1946 in Atascadero, California, the eldest of three children to Wade and Johnnie Maye (Fossett) Holloway. The family, including her brother Wade Jr. moved to Watts in 1948 and her sister Patrice was born in 1951.
Playing violin, flute and piano she was a talented musician from a young age. After singing in the church choir, she and her sister sang backing for several R&B acts, Brenda recorded Every Little Bit Hurts aged just 16. As Motown’s first West Coast signing, she famously told Berry Gordy “I either sing, or I’m your mistress but it’s one or the other”. A beautiful woman, she was never short of male admirers.
HEAL 