Peggy Lee’s death at 81 on January 21, 2002 prompted my tribute to her. It was published in The Kansas City Kansan on February 2, 2002. 

By Steve Crum

When news of Peggy Lee’s death at 81 last week reached me, I was touched in several ways. She was not only a great singer, but a very good actress. Even though she seldom acted in movies, when she did, it was an event. Her supporting role in Jack Webb’s wonderful Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955) brought her a well earned Oscar nomination. 

Her movie links include voice work (singing and dialogue) in Walt Disney’s classic animated Lady and the Tramp (1952). Lee also co-wrote the movie’s songs, including “She’s a Tramp” and “We Are Siamese (If You Please).”

Lee made 700 recordings and 79 record albums. Speaking of her song writing abilities, she is credited with having written more than 200 songs, mostly as lyricist. Anyone alive since 1940 will remember some of the other tunes she penned: “It’s a Good Day,” “Mañana” and “I Don’t Know Enough About You.” 

Of course, the song that immediately comes to mind when mentioning Peggy Lee is her signature, “Fever.” “Fever” is unique in that her accompaniment is solely a bass and drum. The arrangement, emphasizing Lee’s bluesy voice, is simply terrific.

Her other hits (“Golden Earrings,” “Big Spender,” “Lover,” “Them There Eyes,” “You’re My Thrill”) hardly compare to my favorite Peggy Lee sound, the unforgettable “Is That All There Is?” When I hear it, I think of a smokey bar in Lake Charles, La., during 1970 when I played it on the joint’s jukebox. It prompted another bourbon and Coke. 

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Most people do not realize that Peggy Lee wrote the music for the legendary Joan Crawford western, Johnny Guitar. She also wrote the lyrics to Duke Ellington’s “I’m Gonna Go Fishing” for the 1957 movie, Anatomy of a Murder. Although it was before my time, I have recordings of Lee as a big band singer for Benny Goodman. She was also the weekly singer on Jimmy Durante’s radio program throughout its late 1940s run.

After numerous physical problems, including stroke, broken spine, viral pneumonia, temporary blindness and diabetes, Peggy Lee performed as long as she could. It is reported that during the last few years, when she was bedridden, she loved to paint and grow roses. 

She still listened to her favorite music—the sounds of Debussy, Chopin, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. 

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