Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee was an influential American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, and actress whose career spanned over six decades. Renowned for her distinctive, breathy voice and sophisticated phrasing, she was a master of understatement and subtle musical interpretation. Lee achieved success as a recording artist for Capitol Records, a performer in film and on television, and a composer for Walt Disney Pictures.

Early life and career

Born Norma Deloris Egstrom in Jamestown, North Dakota, she endured a difficult childhood marked by the death of her mother and a harsh stepmother. Her early musical influences included listening to Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong on the radio. She began singing professionally on local North Dakota radio stations before venturing to Los Angeles and then Chicago, where she was hired by bandleader Benny Goodman in 1941 after an audition. Her first major hit with the Benny Goodman Orchestra was a version of Lil Green's "Why Don't You Do Right?", which established her as a distinctive new voice in the big band era and led to her adoption of the stage name Peggy Lee.

Rise to fame

After leaving Benny Goodman in 1943, she married guitarist Dave Barbour and began a prolific solo career, recording numerous hits for Capitol Records. Signature songs from this period include "Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)", "It's a Good Day", and "Golden Earrings". Her cool, intimate vocal style stood in contrast to many belters of the time and influenced a generation of singers. She also began a successful parallel career in Hollywood, starring in films like The Jazz Singer opposite Danny Thomas and earning an Academy Award nomination for her role in Pete Kelly's Blues. Her work as a songwriter flourished, most notably co-writing the songs for the Walt Disney Pictures film Lady and the Tramp, in which she also voiced several characters.

Later career and legacy

Lee remained a major recording and concert attraction for decades, known for her meticulously crafted nightclub acts and successful concept albums like Black Coffee and The Man I Love. She won a Grammy Award in 1969 for her hit "Is That All There Is?", arranged by Randy Newman. Her influence extended to artists across genres, including Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, k.d. lang, and Diana Krall. Lee was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She is remembered as a consummate artist who helped shape the sound of mid-century popular music and paved the way for female singer-songwriters.

Personal life

She was married four times, first and most significantly to guitarist and collaborator Dave Barbour, with whom she had her only child, daughter Nicki Lee Foster. Subsequent marriages were to actor Brad Dexter, actor Dewey Martin, and percussionist Jack Del Rio, all ending in divorce. Lee faced significant health challenges in her later years, including a near-fatal bout with pneumonia in 1961 and a long battle with diabetes and heart disease. She was also a practicing Christian Scientist. Lee passed away from a heart attack in Los Angeles at the age of 81.

Discography and filmography

Her extensive discography includes seminal albums on Decca and Capitol Records such as Sea Shells, Beauty and the Beat!, and Mirrors. Notable film appearances include The Jazz Singer, Pete Kelly's Blues, and The Facts of Life. She made frequent television appearances on programs like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and her own specials. Her voice work for Disney's Lady and the Tramp remains iconic, and she received a special Grammy for crafting the narrative of her autobiographical concert piece, Peggy Lee: The American Songbook.

Category:American jazz singers Category:American songwriters Category:Actresses from North Dakota