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."
Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe
Peggy Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The crops ain't gonna fail
Caught a blue bird by the toe
A rainbow by the tail
A certain man with eyes that shine
Voodooed up this heart of mine
It seems like
He's got a smile that makes the lilacs want to grow
He's got a way that makes the angels heave a sigh
When they see Little Joe passing by
Sometimes the cabin's gloomy and the table's bare
But when he kisses me it's Christmas everywhere
Troubles fly away and life is easy
Does he love me good?
That's all I need to know
Seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe
Little Joe
Little Joe
Little Joe
The lyrics of Peggy Lee's song "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" revolve around the titular character, who brings happiness into the singer's life. The first few lines suggest that no matter what problems may arise, Joe's presence makes everything seem better. The reference to catching a blue bird and a rainbow speaks to the idea of capturing rare and beautiful things, which is what Joe represents to the singer. The reference to "a certain man with eyes that shine" suggests that Joe has a certain charisma or charm that draws people in.
The chorus of the song repeats the idea that happiness is just a thing called Joe. The singer describes him with glowing terms, such as his smile that makes flowers grow and his presence that makes the angels sigh. She goes on to say that even when things are tough, Joe's love makes everything seem like Christmas. The ultimate message of the song is that happiness is not something that can be found through material possessions or success. Instead, it is found in the love and companionship of someone like Joe.
Line by Line Meaning
Skies ain't gonna cloud no more
The future is bright and promising, there is no room for despair.
The crops ain't gonna fail
Everything is going to work out, there is no need for worry.
Caught a blue bird by the toe
I am experiencing moments of good luck and good fortune.
A rainbow by the tail
Life is full of beauty and wonder and I am experiencing joy and happiness.
A certain man with eyes that shine
I have met a special man whose presence brings light into my life.
Voodooed up this heart of mine
He has captivated my heart and soul, and I am under his spell.
It seems like
From my perspective, it is apparent that
Happiness is just a thing called Joe
My source of joy and contentment is the love I share with Joe.
He's got a smile that makes the lilacs want to grow
Joe's smile has an enchanting effect that fills my world with beauty and life.
He's got a way that makes the angels heave a sigh
Joe has a special quality that makes everything seem better and more peaceful.
When they see little Joe passing by
Even heavenly beings are awed by the goodness and love that Joe embodies.
Sometimes the cabin's gloomy and the table's bare
Even when times are tough and resources are limited, I am sustained by the love and affection that Joe gives me.
But when he kisses me it's Christmas everywhere
Joe's love for me is a gift, and every time he shows me affection or love, I feel as though I am experiencing the joy and magic of Christmas.
Troubles fly away and life is easy
Joe's presence has a calming effect that makes life feel less complex and burdensome.
Does he love me good?
My only concern is whether or not Joe loves me fully and completely.
That's all I need to know
Because Joe's love sustains me, nothing else truly matters.
Little Joe
Joe is not only my source of happiness, but a special treasure who brings light into my life.
Little Joe
Joe is always and forever the source of my deepest joy and contentment.
Little Joe
There is no one quite like Joe, and I cherish every moment we share.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alanndrake2619
blakegriplingph where in the files is the driver ( who is most likely Pepe) listed as Joe?I'd love to see it. If Joe were still alive, they wouldn't make a whole mission centered around Vito getting revenge for his death;plus with the popularity of the franchise they could have easily made Mafia 3 to take place on the heels of 2 and save Lincolns story for 4.
Oh and there's also Hangar 13 Creative Director/Studio Head Haden Blackman who was questioned in multiple interviews if the game would settle what happened to Joe Barbaro. On every instance he stated that the game would definitely reveal what happened to Joe. He never said it would be hinted at, he never said there would be clues that we could piece together and interpret on our own, he said in plain English that if you spent time with Vito and do his side missions, the game would reveal what happened to Joe. The only thing keeping this alive is fan theories and the fact that not only did the game get subpar reviews but Hangar 13 didn't plan on people being so upset about Joe's death, hence some of the strange tweets after the game came out. Of course video entertainment can always find ways to bring back the presumed dead but at this point there is nothing solid to pin that theory on.
@steelsamba
Skies ain't gonna cloud no more
The crops ain't gonna fail
Caught a blue bird by the toe
A rainbow by the tail
A certain man with eyes that shine
Voodooed up this heart of mine
It seems like
Happiness is just a thing called Joe
He's got a smile that makes the lilacs want to grow
He's got a way that makes the angels heave a sigh
When they see little Joe passing by
Sometimes the cabin's gloomy and the table's bare
But when he kisses me it's Christmas everywhere
Troubles fly away and life is easy
Does he love me good?
That's all I need to know
Seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe
Little Joe
Little Joe
Little Joe
@billsebring445
This song always makes me ugly cry….I had a beautiful loving Egyptian Mau cat named Adjo, and his nickname was Joe.
I’d loved that sweet little clown when I met him as a baby and adopted him. I lost him when he was 10, died in my arms.
He was love and silliness and comfort on 4 legs. He was my snuggle buddy and my baby boy. When Peggy sings the words “little Joe” I just burst into tears thinking of my little baby boy. How much I miss him and how much his brother Moe misses him.
This is a beautiful sweet song and it fills me with warmth and happiness….and tears.
Love you always my little bearcat Joe.
@blakegriplingph
Happiness is just a thing called Joe Barbaro.
@nurkenrustem6044
blakegriplingph I’m sweetest chubby!
@blancoz9000
Until we see u again Mr Barbaro ;)
@igorwargo3462
😂
@Stefan-313
When you drive in winter night in Mafia II
@aleksandarmandic6679
Chapter 14 when you driving in the middle of the night to the Bruno.
@willmawonkatiktok476
Am I the only one who refuses to get out of the car when this song comes on in mafia 2??
@Jeffisme555
Nahhh, not at all
@dantealighary8400
I just discovered this absolute gem on mafia 2, just now on 2024.😅
@mustid2441
Still my favourite game, love Mafia 2, wish they made a remastered version for the upcoming PS5