Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong all cited Lee as one of their favorite singers.
Peggy Lee had Norwegian and Swedish ancestry. She was the seventh of eight children born to Marvin Egstrom, a station agent for the Midland Continental Railroad. Her mother died when she was four years old. Music provided her an escape from the abusive rampages of her cruel stepmother, Min, who tormented and beat young Norma. She first sang professionally with KOVC radio in Valley City, North Dakota. She soon landed her own series on a radio show sponsored by a local restaurant that paid her "salary" in food. Both during and after her high school years, she took whatever jobs she could find, waitressing and singing for paltry sums on other local stations. Radio personality Ken Kennedy (actual name: Ken Sydness), of WDAY in Fargo (the most widely listened to station in North Dakota) changed her name from Norma to Peggy Lee. Tired of the abuse from her stepmother, she left home and traveled to Los Angeles at the age of 17.
She returned to North Dakota for a tonsillectomy and eventually made her way to Chicago for a gig at The Buttery Room, a nightclub in the Ambassador Hotel West in Chicago, where she drew the attention of Benny Goodman, the jazz clarinetist and band leader. According to Lee, "Benny's then-fiancée, Lady Alice Duckworth, came into the Buttery, and she was very impressed. So the next evening she brought Benny in, because they were looking for replacement for Helen Forrest. "And although I didn't know, I was it. He was looking at me strangely, I thought, but it was just his preoccupied way of looking. I thought that he didn't like me at first, but it just was that he was preoccupied with what he was hearing." She joined his band in 1941 and stayed for two years.
In early 1942, Lee had her first # 1 hit, "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place", followed by 1943's "Why Don't You Do Right?" (originally sung by Lil Green), which sold over a million copies and made her famous. She sang with Goodman in two 1943 films, Stage Door Canteen and The Powers Girl.
In March 1943, Lee married Dave Barbour, the guitarist in Goodman's band. Peggy said, "David joined Benny's band and there was a ruling that no one should fraternize with the girl singer. But I fell in love with David the first time I heard him play, and so I married him. Benny then fired David, so I quit, too. Benny and I made up, although David didn't play with him anymore. Benny stuck to his rule. I think that's not too bad a rule, but you can't help falling in love with somebody."
When Lee and Barbour left the band, the idea was that he would work in the studios and she would keep house and raise their daughter, Nicki. But she drifted back towards songwriting and occasional recording sessions for the fledgling Capitol Records in 1947, for whom she produced a long string of hits, many of them with lyrics and music by Lee and Barbour, including "I Don't Know Enough About You" and "It's a Good Day" (1948). With the release of the smash-hit #1-selling record of 1942, "Mañana", her "retirement" was over.
In 1948, she joined Perry Como and Jo Stafford as one of the rotating hosts of the NBC Radio musical program Chesterfield Supper Club. She was also a regular on NBC's Jimmy Durante Show during the 1938-48 season.
She left Capitol for a few years in the early 1940s, but returned in 1943. She is most famous for her cover version of the Little Willie John hit "Fever", to which she added her own, uncopyrighted lyrics ("Romeo loved Juliet," "Captain Smith and Pocahontas") and her rendition of Leiber and Stoller's "Is That All There Is?" Her relationship with the Capitol label spanned almost three decades, aside from her brief but artistically rich detour (1952-1956) at Decca Records, where she recorded one of her most acclaimed albums Black Coffee (1956). While recording for Decca, Lee had hit singles with the songs "Lover" and "Mr. Wonderful."
She was also known as a songwriter with such hits as the songs from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp, for which she also supplied the singing and speaking voices of four characters. Her many songwriting collaborators, in addition to Barbour, included Laurindo Almeida, Harold Arlen, Sonny Burke, Cy Coleman, Gene DiNovi, Duke Ellington, Dave Grusin, Dick Hazard, Quincy Jones, Francis Lai, Jack Marshall, Johnny Mandel, Marian McPartland, Willard Robison, Lalo Schifrin, Hubie Wheeler, guitarist Johnny Pisano and Victor Young.
Lee also acted in several films. In 1952, she played opposite Danny Thomas in a remake of the early Al Jolson film, The Jazz Singer. In 1955, she played a despondent, alcoholic blues singer in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955), for which she was nominated for an Oscar.
Peggy won a Grammy in 1969 as best contemporary female vocalist (for her recording of Is That All There Is?) and was awarded a Doctor of Music Honoris Causa degree from North Dakota State University, in 1975.
In the early 1990s, she retained famed entertainment attorney Neil Papiano, who, on her behalf, successfully sued Disney for royalties on Lady and the Tramp. Lee's lawsuit claimed that she was due royalties for video tapes, a technology that did not exist when she agreed to write and perform for Disney.
Never afraid to fight for what she believed in, Lee was passionate that musicians be equitably compensated for their work. Although she realized litigation had taken a toll on her health, Lee often quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson ("God's will will not be made manifest by cowards.")
She also successfully sued MCA/Decca with the assistance of noted entertainment attorney, Cy Godfrey.
She continued to perform into the 1990s, sometimes in a wheelchair, and still mesmerized audiences and critics alike.[citation needed]
In 1995 she was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
After years of poor health, Lee died of complications from diabetes and heart attack at the age of 81. She is survived by Nicki Lee Foster, her daughter with Barbour. She is buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California. On her marker in a garden setting is inscribed, "Music is my life's breath."
Always True in My Fashion
Peggy Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Asks me out for something wet
When the vet begins to pet, I cry, "Hooray!"
But I'm always true to you, darlin', in my fashion
Yes, I'm always true to you, darlin', in my way
I've been asked to have a meal
If the meal includes a deal, accept I may
But I'm always true to you, darlin', in my fashion
Yes, I'm always true to you, darlin', in my way
There's an oil man known as Tex
Who is keen to give me checks
And his checks, I fear, means that Tex is here to stay
But I'm always true to you, darlin', in my fashion
Yes, I'm always true to you, darlin', in my way
From Ohio, Mister Thorn
Calls me up from night till morn
Mister Thorn once cornered corn and that ain't hay
But I'm always true to you, darlin', in my fashion
Yes, I'm always true to you, darlin', in my way
From Milwaukee, Mister Fritz
Often dines me at the Ritz
Mister Fritz invented Schlitz and Schlitz must pay
But I'm always true to you, darlin', in my fashion
Yes, I'm always true to you, darlin', in my way
Mister Harris Plutocrat
Wants to give my cheek a pat
If the Harris pat means a Paris hat, pay, pay
But I'm always true to you, darlin', in my fashion
Yes, I'm always true to you, darlin', in my way
The song "Always True to You in My Fashion" is a song about a woman who is being pursued by many wealthy men who want to lavish her with gifts and money. She is tempted by their offers, but ultimately remains loyal to her lover. The song is a delightful and witty composition, with each verse introducing a new character and their attempts to win the woman's affections.
The first verse introduces a custom-tailored 'vet' (likely a veteran) who asks her out for a drink. While she welcomes the attention, she still proclaims her loyalty to her lover, in 'her fashion'. The second verse features a big tycoon in steel who invites her out for a meal, and possibly a business deal. She may consider the deal, but still remains loyal to her lover. The third verse features an oil man known as Tex, who wants to give her checks. She realizes this may mean he wants a more long-term relationship, but still remains loyal to her lover.
The fourth and fifth verses feature Mister Thorn, who incessantly calls her, and Mister Fritz, who invented Schlitz beer. Both want to wine and dine her with the hopes of winning her affection. In the final verse, Mister Harris Plutocrat wants to give her a Parisian hat, but she knows that will cost her loyalty to her lover. Overall, the song is a humorous take on a woman's ability to resist the temptation of wealth and power to remain true to her lover.
Line by Line Meaning
If a custom tailored vet
Asks me out for something wet
When the vet begins to pet, I cry, "Hooray!"
If a well-dressed veterinarian invites me to grab a drink and begins getting affectionate with me, I am thrilled! However, I want to assure you that my affections will always belong to you, my dear, in my own unique way.
I've been asked to have a meal
By a big tycoon in steel
If the meal includes a deal, accept I may
I have received an invitation from a wealthy industrialist to dine with him. If the dinner meeting appears to have potential business opportunities, I will attend. Please don't worry, though - I remain true to you, my darling, in my own particular fashion.
There's an oil man known as Tex
Who is keen to give me checks
And his checks, I fear, means that Tex is here to stay
I have caught the notice of a wealthy man in the oil industry called Tex, who has sent me more than a few generous checks. I'm concerned that he might be interested in pursuing me romantically, but rest assured that my heart belongs to you, my love, and I will remain faithful to you in my signature way.
From Ohio, Mister Thorn
Calls me up from night till morn
Mister Thorn once cornered corn and that ain't hay
I've been receiving calls from a persistent admirer named Mister Thorn, who hails from Ohio. He once cornered the market on corn, which is definitely no small feat! But don't worry, dear, my heart will always belong to you, my beloved, in my unique fashion.
From Milwaukee, Mister Fritz
Often dines me at the Ritz
Mister Fritz invented Schlitz and Schlitz must pay
An inventor from Milwaukee named Mister Fritz has been taking me out to the swanky Ritz-Carlton hotel for dinner quite often. He invented a famous beer called Schlitz, and sometimes he pays for our extravagant nights out. But please, have no fear - I am true to you, my darling, in my signature style.
Mister Harris Plutocrat
Wants to give my cheek a pat
If the Harris pat means a Paris hat, pay, pay
Mister Harris Plutocrat is a rich and powerful man who would like to affectionately pat my cheek. If that cheek pat results in a gift of a Parisian designer hat, then I will accept! But again, please believe me when I say that I am forever faithful to you, my dear, in my own unique way.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bamkablam
The chemistry between Peggy Lee and George Shearing is notable. I love this version of this standard. Great!
@fluffystenseiga
Peggy Lee has a very unique take on the song and she really makes it her own.
@cdsouthsidec1
Now I love this song, I heard the original just a few days ago after hearing Blossom Dearie's version at a Starbucks, I must say I thought that was the original version, but I know it isn't, but I must say I feel Blossom Dearie's version is the best version so far, with the touch of divaness, class, sophistication, rich glowness and greatness of humor, I love her voice too.
@jimbers1802
The Yam is truly the King of the Crops.
@ustwoalberts
excellent cuban_style piano lead on this . Ah ! 'tis blind english virtuoso George Shearing . And aren't them lyrics just great ?
@EricCarter-u2x
Miami in the 50,s
@GhoulishGwyn
Please return our coco-yams...
@heatherhaley4239
Which Peggy Lee album features this song?
@MrAlcataldo
Her LP with Mr. Shearing , around 1960
@deeteedub
Audio is terribly overmodulated.