Brenda Ivey Robertson has been singing since she was 13 years old. Professionally, she has been crafting and carving a career for herself in the Nashville music industry since 1983 (when Spirit of the Living God was released). By the time her second album, titled You Are My Neighbor, dropped in 1988, James Hendrix—one of Ms. Robertson’s mentors from Motown Records—knew he had a great singer on his hands.
Mrs. Robertson has continued to sing throughout her life and has worked hard to create a name for herself in the gospel music industry. She now resides in Antioch, living a quiet life with her husband of 36 years, Wilbur. All of her work follows the tradition of classic gospel and soul music. Her style sets her apart, as does the authenticity and sweetness of her heart. Even now, as she goes through stage 3 kidney failure and dialysis, she maintains her vibrant, positive attitude concerning her walk with Christ and her love for music.
Nashville gospel artist Brenda Ivey Robertson, seated, was treated to a special recording session Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Also pictured is her pianist for the session, Daryl Bowers, left, MTSU Recording Industry Chair John Merchant, top center, and MTSU College of Media and Entertainment Dean Beverly Keel, right. Merchant recorded the session, which was arranged by Keel, inside MTSU Bragg Media and Entertainment Building. (MTSU photo by Tom Beckwith)
To preserve and record some of Robertson’s music, Beverly Keel, dean of the College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU, invited the singer to record at the MTSU studios. Additionally, the MTSU Center for Pop Music will archive Robertson’s recordings. Professor John Merchant, who has recorded many greats including Michael Jackson and Olivia Newton John, was there to assist. Robertson said she was delighted with the amount of care and appreciation that went into this recording process.
When recalling the most memorable thing about the recording session, Merchant added: “We can achieve technological perfection in music, but there’s no substitute for authenticity—for the raw authenticity of someone singing from their heart.” He also recalls that Robertson “meant every lyric. She didn’t have to look at anything . . . she just closed her eyes and sang.”
Nashville gospel artist Brenda Ivey Robertson, center, was treated to a special recording session Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. At right is MTSU Recording Industry Chair John Merchant, who recorded the session. (MTSU photo by Tom Beckwith)
As this recording was done very organically, with no digital trimming, this “figuring it out as you go” approach was very appropriate for Mrs. Robertson’s 1950s style of gospel music. This new album is set to release soon under the title A Soulful Gospel Session. Robertson cited as a few of her favorite songs from the session “Satan, We’re Going to Pray Your Kingdom Down,” “I Ain’t Gonna Let My Religion Die” and “You Are My Neighbor” (composed by Hendrix). The last song, she told the Pulse, speaks to her because “no matter who you are or where you’re from, God loves you.”
This approach has inspired her to learn more about different cultures and develop relationships with people of other cultures.
“I did not get formally educated and that always bothered me,” Robertson said. “I was watching the True Blue channel and saw Mrs. Beverly Keel. I called her thinking she wouldn’t answer. And she brought life back to my music . . . that really blew my mind! Now I have a new platform to talk about kidney disease.”
As Robertson goes into her 10th year of dialysis, she wants to bring more awareness to people of all ages about how to take care of their kidneys.
“It’s a four-hour process every time I go [for dialysis],” she explained to the Pulse. The kidney care advocate wants to share about other ways to heal, about how individualized care plans are far more effective than the mere treatment of the condition, and about her emphasis on eating better food—to slow down and cook—to take care of her body and to take her vitamins and minerals. She encourages others to do the same.
“It’s a growing epidemic of people dying of kidney disease,” Robertson said. “I’ve got to save the people who’ll listen to me.”
In an interview with the Murfreesboro Pulse, Robertson said that the recording session that MTSU offered her and the gifts that Keel brought her touched her heart, but continued to emphasize that she wanted her fight with kidney disease to be shared with the world and to encourage others battling the disease to keep fighting.
When asked what role her faith plays in her life, she says it is the sole inspiration behind why she does what she does. She promised God she’d tell everyone about who and why He is if she got through this. And that’s what she’s been doing.
“The machine is not my identity—I was somebody before I developed this condition,” she said. “Number one, I belong to God. Number two, God loves me. And number three, I tell people who He is . . . I love God so much. I’m not going to die until God gets ready for me.
“My husband has been so dedicated and fixed on me living well,” she said, adding that she takes great comfort from her church family at Simeon Baptist Church, and visits from her pastor and his wife, John R. and Karen Rollins.
Daryl Bowers, a musician from her church, joined Robertson at the MTSU recording session.
Robertson said it was such a blessing to have finalized the recording project. Further, she wants to tell young people to go into college and get their education—if she was able to accomplish a music career without academic credentials behind her, think about what those with a formal education can accomplish.
Musically, Robertson said she recalls Dr. J. Robert Bradley’s deep, baritone voice admonishing her: “Sing, Brenda; sing well! Don’t over sing. Tell the story and sit down.”
One of the most striking things about Mrs. Robertson is her positive attitude.
“Seldom am I ever down. I refuse to throw a pity party,” she said. “I am a Kingdom citizen, so I can’t be a Kingdom citizen and act like a broke-down duck. . . . I choose to have a good attitude and tell people about God.” Many people are ill-tempered on dialysis—it is certainly not glamorous. Robertson said.
“Once you’re diagnosed with kidney disease, then you have to go to a surgeon to map the veins in your arm. [They] put a device in to put needles in to cleanse your blood. I had 20 surgeries on my upper left arm. They shut it down, then they put the device in my right arm. That lasted five years. I’m just now getting healed from the surgery they did in May for the fistula in my right arm,” she said. “I don’t look like what I’ve been through. That’s the greatest gift God could give me.” She even said that she outlived the doctor who said she would not live past 2014, and is convinced that God has a purpose for her still being here.
“I want my music to leave an inspiration,” she said. “I am so thankful that my work for God finally got acknowledged. The legacy of my life is that I love all people—God’s people.”
At age 69, Mrs. Robertson is still going strong, and wants people to know that you can overcome.
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For more information on Brenda Ivey Robertson’s story, or if you are interested in purchasing A Soulful Gospel Session on CD, contact Grant C. Ivey at 629-259-1667.
