Letters | Happy birthday Peggy King, jazz doyenne of Philadelphia

Cheers to jazz singer Peggy King who celebrates her 89th birthday on February 16. She hails from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and performed in high school musicals (Kiss Me Kate), then went on to radio (Dragnet), big bands (with Charlie Spivak, Ralph Flanagan, Harry James and Percy Faith orchestras) and TV (the Mel Torme and George Gobel shows as featured singer). Arthur Freed, producer of the George Gobel TV show in the 1950s, dubbed her “Pretty Perky Peggy King”, and she toured with Bob Hope and Debbie Reynolds entertaining troops in Korea.

Boy Meets Girl was a best selling Columbia LP with King, Jerry Vale, Felicia Sanders and Percy Faith. She appeared as co-star to James Garner in a Maverick episode, as well as movies (Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy and Zero Hour! with Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell).

That’s quite a resume for King who, along with her daughter Suzy (a schoolteacher), are passionate about their chosen fields of endeavour. Happy birthday, Peggy King – as you enjoy your special day! And yes, she still performs – with the All-Star Jazz Trio – in venues around the Philadelphia area.

Herb Stark, North Carolina