{"id":6254,"date":"2024-03-19T16:42:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T20:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peggylee.com\/?p=6254"},"modified":"2024-03-19T18:30:16","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T22:30:16","slug":"peggy-lee-celebrated-in-palm-springs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peggylee.com\/peggy-lee-celebrated-in-palm-springs\/","title":{"rendered":"Peggy Lee Celebrated in Palm Springs, a Formative Place Early in Her Career"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of Peggy Lee\u2019s first experiences as a professional singer outside of her native North Dakota took place in Palm Springs, California, in early 1941, where the 20-year-old hopeful discovered an approach she would build upon for a lifelong career. It happened at a Palm Springs nightclub called the Doll House at 1032 North Palm Canyon Drive, where the audience was boisterous. As she recalled in her 1989 autobiography Miss Peggy Lee<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew I couldn’t sing over them, so I decided to sing under them. The more noise they made the more softly I sang. When they discovered they couldn’t hear me, they began to look at me. Then they began to listen. As I sang, I kept thinking, \u2018softly with feeling.\u2019 The noise dropped to a hum; the hum gave way to silence. I had learned how to reach and hold my audience \u2013 softly, with feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eighty-three years later, the City of Palm Springs celebrated Lee and her formative experience there at a March 8, 2024 ceremony unveiling a star for her on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars. The afternoon event featured a performance of \u201cIt\u2019s a Good Day\u201d by the Palm Springs Gay Men\u2019s Chorus and remarks by Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein; singer, pianist, educator and archivist Michael Feinstein; Holly Foster Wells, President of Peggy Lee Associates and granddaughter of Lee; radio and television personality Wink Martindale; television host and community advocate Scott Nevins; and Nona Watson, CEO of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The afternoon ceremony was followed by an evening presentation titled \u201cPalm Springs Celebrates Peggy Lee,\u201d which featured rare stories from Foster Wells, videos of Lee, and a performance by singer Debby Boone at the Annenberg Theater inside the Palm Springs Art Museum. The evening program, hosted by Nevins, served as a benefit for the museum in a theater where Lee once performed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy grandmother would be so incredibly grateful for the honor of being included on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars and to know that she will forever have her own little spot in this community that she loved,\u201d said Foster Wells following the afternoon and evening events. \u201cIt was such a thrill to see so many people turn up to pay tribute to her, and I was overcome with gratitude and pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love thinking that people who walk by \u2018her\u2019 corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon will be reminded of a young girl who used to be Norma Egstrom who came to Palm Springs with her new name and a dream of singing,\u201d said Foster Wells. \u201cAnd maybe those who don\u2019t know who Peggy Lee is will see the star and will look her up, and Peggy Lee can, once again, be discovered in Palm Springs. Nothing would make her happier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following video montage capturing highlights from the celebration was created by Teagan Foster, one of Lee\u2019s great-grandsons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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