Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002) was an American popular music singer. She was famous for her "soft and cool" singing style, which she is thought to have developed in response to noisy nightclub audiences.

Related Topics:
May 26 - 1920 - January 21 - 2002 - American

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Lee was born Norma Dolores Egström in Jamestown, North Dakota. After her mother died her father remarried and her stepmother was very cruel to her. So she left home, and in 1941, she joined Benny Goodman's band—then at the height of its popularity—and for over two years toured the United States with it. In July 1942, Lee recorded her first hit, "Why Don't You Do Right?" It sold over a million copies and made her famous. In March 1943, Lee married Dave Barbour, the guitarist in Goodman's band.

Related Topics:
Jamestown, North Dakota - Benny Goodman - Why Don't You Do Right?

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In 1944, Lee began to record for Capitol Records, for whom she produced a long string of hits, many of them with lyrics and music by Lee and Barbour. She is most famous for her cover version of the Little Willie John hit "Fever" and her rendition of Leiber and Stoller's "Is That All There Is?" Her relationship with the label lasted almost three decades, although from 1952-1957 she moved to Decca Records.

Related Topics:
Capitol Records - Cover version - Little Willie John - Fever - Leiber and Stoller - Decca Records

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She was also known as a songwriter with such hits as the songs from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp, which she also sang.

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Lee also acted in several films. In 1953, she played opposite Danny Thomas in a remake of the early Al Jolson film, The Jazz Singer. In 1955, she played a despondent and alcoholic blues singer in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955), for which she was nominated for an Oscar.

Related Topics:
Danny Thomas - Al Jolson - The Jazz Singer - Pete Kelly's Blues - Oscar

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In the early 1990s, she successfully sued Disney for royalties on Lady and the Tramp. She claimed that she was due royalties for video tapes, a technology that didn't exist when she agreed to write and perform for Disney.

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Peggy Lee died (after years of poor health) from complications from diabetes and cardiac disease at the age of 81 in 2002; she is survived by her daughter, Nicki Barbour.

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She is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California.

Related Topics:
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery - Westwood, California

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Peggy Lee is a recipient of the state of North Dakota's Roughrider Award.

Related Topics:
North Dakota - Roughrider Award

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