In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Peggy Lee

Born: 1920. Died: 2002. Lived in: United States

As a blues-influenced jazz singer, Lee's restrained yet soulful subdued singing style has been compared to Billie Holiday. Her long singing career virtually encompassed the history of American popular music between 1940 and 1970. In addition, she acted in films and revealed herself to be an accomplished songwriter.

Born on a farm, Lee sang with the Four of Us in small clubs in the Midwest and California before being discovered by Benny Goodman in Chicago in 1941 and joining his band as replacement for Helen Forrest. Her first recordings with Goodman, including Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean" (Columbia, 1941), were merely competent, but her 1942 recording of "Why Don't You Do Right?" revealed an individual style. Written by Lee herself (sic), it was based on a blues song by Lil Green. In 1943, after her marriage to Goodman's guitarist David Barbour, she left the band and retired to raise a family, only occasionally recording (sic). Among her first solo hits were "Manana" (Capitol, 1948), written with Barbour; "Bali Ha'i" (Capitol, 1949) and "Lover" (Decca, 1952), her spectacular mambo version of Lorenz Hart's and Richard Rodgers' waltz with an orchestra backing supplied by Gordon Jenkins.

Individual Folios

Displaying 1-5 of 5 items.

Kirby Shaw : Fever

Peggy Lee's sizzling sound is adapted for SSA in a sensational setting by Kirby Shaw. Available: SSA, ShowTrax CD. Performance Time: Approx. 3:05.

Arranger: Kirby Shaw Performed By: Peggy Lee

John Leavitt : It's a Good Day

It's always a good day for singing a song and your singers will do just that with this sparkling setting of the Peggy Lee classic arranged for young voices! An ideal concert opener! Discovery Level 2 Available separately: 2-Part, VoiceTrax CD. Duration: ca. 2:00.

Arranger: John Leavitt Performed By: Peggy Lee

Lloyd Steinkamp : It's a Good Day

An all-purpose uptune, perfect for all audiences and performance settings. Use it as a show opener, icebreaker, even a closer. Lloyd Steinkamp's arrangement is propulsive, exuberant, and fairly quick to learn. Try this one at youth camps and outreach events -- we offer it in voicings for men's or womens voice's.

Arranger: Lloyd Steinkamp Performed By: Peggy Lee

Kirby Shaw : Ladies of Jazz - A Tribute to Ella, Billie and Peggy

Salute the great female jazz artists from the past, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee, with this 10-minute medley of hits and showcase your own ensemble of stars of the future! Includes: Cheek to Cheek, Fever, God Bless' the Child. Available separately: SSA, ShowTrax CD. Rhythm parts available digitally (gtr, b, dm). Duration: ca. 9:45.

Arranger: Kirby Shaw Performed By: Peggy Lee

Cristi Cary Miller : The Tree

From Peggy Lee's Christmas Carousel album comes this playful song based on Schumann's The Happy Farmer and celebrating the joy of finding and decorating the perfect Christmas tree! Charming! Available separately: 2-Part, ShowTrax CD. Duration: ca. 2:35.

Arranger: Cristi Cary Miller Performed By: Peggy Lee