Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
link takes you to a huge amount of info on Peggy Lee and has other pictures there
Norma Deloris Egstrom (b. 5/26/1920 – d. 1/21/2002) known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, and actress whose career spanned seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman’s big band, Lee created a sophisticated persona, writing music for films, acting, and recording conceptual record albums combining poetry and music. Called the “Queen of American pop music,” Lee recorded more than 1,100 masters and co-wrote more than 270 songs.
Early Years
She was born in Jamestown, ND, the seventh of the eight children of Selma Emele (née Anderson) Egstrom and Marvin Olaf Egstrom (Ekstrom,) a station agent for the Midland Continental Railroad. Her father was Swedish-American and her mother was Norwegian-American. After her mother died when Lee was four, her father married Minnie Schaumberg Wiese.
Career Beginnings
Lee began singing at a young age. In Wimbledon, she was the female singer for a six-piece college dance band with leader Lyle “Doc” Haines. She traveled to various locations with Haines’s quintet on Fridays after school and on weekends.
In March 1938, at age 17, Lee left home for Hollywood, CA. Her first job was seasonal work on Balboa Island, Newport Beach, as a short-order cook and waitress at Harry’s Cafe. When the job ended after Easter, she was hired as a carnival barker at the Balboa Fun Zone. She wrote about this experience in the song “The Nickel Ride”, which she composed with Dave Grusin for the 1974 film of the same name.
Lee joined Benny Goodman’s band in August 1941 and made her first recording, singing “Elmer’s Tune”. She stayed with the Benny Goodman Orchestra for two years.
In 1942, Lee had her first top ten hit, “Somebody Else Is Taking My Place,” followed in 1943 by “Why Don’t You Do Right?”, which sold more than one million copies and made her famous. She sang with Goodman’s orchestra in two 1943 films, Stage Door Canteen and The Powers Girl.
Albums discography
Studio albums |
40 |
|---|---|
EPs |
46 |
Live albums |
7 |
Compilation albums |
91 |
Video albums |
7 |
Box sets |
7 |
Other album appearances |
7 |
Singles discography
Singles |
157 |
|---|---|
Promotional singles |
18 |
Other charted songs |
8 |
Tao-Talk 
Fabulous singer
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Yes she is. Also an interesting person with a sense of humor. I love the YT of her and Judy G.
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I love Peggy Lee’s soft voice.
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Good performance, Jim. Thanks for sharing. I think I actually remember seeing this on TV.
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As a child, I adored sexy, sultry singers like Peggy Lee and Julie London. I was a weird kid with much more mature taste than any 10-year-old should have! Very nice inclusion, Lisa.
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Nancy, somehow your early musical likes don’t surprise me. They sounded and looked very glamorous. Thanks, Nancy. I’ve got a few more, no, a lot more, wondrous Women in Music on the horizon this month :)
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Just reading her name made me think of “Fever”. But I loved Dave Barbour’s guitar on “Why Don’t You Do Right?” – though I have to admit the first version of that that comes to mind is Amy Irving in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”
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She married Dave Barbour iirc.
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That explains the look from her while he was soloing.
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Exactly my thought, Steve.
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I too immediately think of “Fever”. But she has so much good music. (K)
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I’m beginning to see that!
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Lovely piece! Your artistry is inspiring.
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Thanks, Olivia!
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Thanks.
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Beautiful tribute to Peggy Lee. Her voice and timeless artistry continue to inspire generations of music lovers. 🎶
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Thanks so much, Olivia. Yes, they do.
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Thank you! I’m a freelance female songwriter, helping artists turn their ideas and emotions into meaningful lyrics and songs. If you ever want a custom song, I’d love to collaborate with you.
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Awesome :)
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What a great artist! One who accomplished so much across a stellar career.
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Indeed, Sean.
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What a wonderful artist. Back then…you had to have an incredible voice to make it…and she obviously did. I’ve heard of her quite a bit through the years.
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Max, I believe it. I also think they probably had to look pretty good in those outfits. I like her sultry voice and glad you’re familiar with her. I love those tidbits on her, with the margarita and Miss Piggy :)
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That was great! Inspiring Miss Piggy Lee…yea I can see why they changed it lol…but she was probably honored by it….AND a rose named after you.
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Oh right, I forgot the rose :)
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A stunning voice and talent who left behind a massive body of work. I had no idea Lee wrote songs as well. I’m sure was in a small minority of female songwriters, given the orientation of the industry back then (and arguably, still). “Why Don’t You Do Right” is a superb selection. Liked the duet as well; such a great video interaction between them. “The Nickel Ride” was a sound I’m not familiar with from her.
Great post, Lisa. Thanks for the brief history on her life and career.
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Steve, happy you enjoyed the post, thanks so much.
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My pleasure, Lisa.
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