The Music of Peggy Lee

• Fred Vigeant
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Fred Vigeant is WITF's Director of Programming and Promotions for TV and Radio. Fred manages the schedules for our radio and television platforms. He also analyzes audience research and manages the public affairs program Smart Talk. Previously, Fred was at WRVO in Oswego, NY for 12 years serving in various roles including Program Director and before that Operations Manager. Fred graduated from the State University of New York College at Oswego with a B.A. in Mass Communications and Broadcasting.

 The Peggy Lee Estate

How many times have you heard the classic song “Fever”? — with its finger-snapping, pulsating opening and then the understated, sensual voice of Miss Peggy Lee seductively flaming right to the end when she slow-sizzles the declaration “What a lovely way to burn!” We celebrate Peggy Lee with Fever – The Music of Miss Peggy Lee premiering Saturday August 29 at 7pm on WITF.

Peggy Lee’s career burned for nearly 60 years, from the fresh-faced girl singer with the Benny Goodman Orchestra to the smoky-voiced, sultry star who became a legendary night club singer, a prolific recording artist, a successful songwriter and an actress talented enough to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Fever – The Music of Miss Peggy Lee features her biggest hits and most famous signature songs, spanning the 1940s through the 1980s, with a wealth of extremely rare footage and images, including photographs and home movies from Miss Lee’s estate.

Introducing the songs and telling her story are recollections from friends, colleagues and family members including Quincy Jones, Andy Williams, k.d. lang, Nancy Sinatra, Margaret Whiting, Billy May, Cy Coleman, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Johnny Mandel and Peggy Lee’s daughter and granddaughter, Nicki Lee Foster and Holly Foster Wells, with recent observations by Michael Feinstein about Peggy’s long-lasting influence on songwriters and singers.

Their comments will give a fascinating biographical overview of the woman born Norma Deloris Egstrom in Jamestown, North Dakota, who survived an abusive childhood and became one of the most acclaimed musical artists of the 20th century.

Songs include: “Why Don’t You Do Right?,” “It’s A Good Day,” “Manana,” “Lover,” “Fever,” “Big Spender,” “I’m A Woman,” “Is That All There Is,” “I Don’t Know Enough About You,” “A Fine Romance,” “I Love Being Here With You,” “The Shining Sea,” “A Doodlin’ Song,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Here’s To You.” Performances with Mel Torme, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman and Andy Williams are featured in the program.

Watch Fever – The Music of Miss Peggy Lee August 29 at 7pm and repeating Sunday August 30 at noon on WITF.  This program is not available on the PBS Video app.

A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.

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