Peggy King (born February 16, 1930) is an American jazz
singer. She was a member of big bands led by Charlie Spivak, Ralph Flanagan,
and Ray Anthony.
Born in Greensburg, Phiadelphia, King began singing at an
early age. After her family moved to Ravenna, Ohio, she attended high school
and business college, meanwhile singing at clubs around the Cleveland area. She
made the move to radio and a hotel band as well. She then joined the big-time
when she began touring with the orchestras of Charlie Spivak, Ray Anthony, and
Ralph Flanagan.
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"Pretty Perky Peggy King", as she was called,
appeared on The George Gobel Show from 1954 through 1957 and guest-starred on
many other TV shows, including Bob Hope's 1956 Chevy Show, American Bandstand,
Maverick, Dragnet (series), The Steve Allen Show, The Kraft Music Hall with
Milton Berle, What's My Line?, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Perry Como Show, The Garry Moore Show, and The Jack Benny Program.
King sang in the 1955 comedy Abbott and Costello Meet the
Mummy and was featured as chief co-star on the poster. She portrayed the
stewardess Janet Turner in the suspense thriller Zero Hour! (1957), later the
basis for the satirical comedy Airplane!. She starred opposite Tab Hunter in
the television musical Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates (1958) and in a
musical version of Jack and the Beanstalk co-starring Joel Grey, Celeste Holm,
and Cyril Ritchard. Her albums include Lazy Afternoon (1959), Oh What a Memory
We Made Tonight, and Peggy King Sings Jerome Kern.
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In 2008 Sepia Records reissued the original cast album of
Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, adding sixteen of King's Columbia
recordings and four of Hunter's. In 2016, Fresh Sound released her first new
album in 36 years. (see comments) The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted King into
their Hall of Fame in 2010. The success of the movie led to her resuming her
singing career in 2013 with the All-Star Jazz Trio, and she received strong
notices at 54 Below in New York and the Metropolitan Room. King continues to
perform in nightclubs, theatres and at charitable and private events on a
regular basis, with Music Director/Pianist Andrew Kahn and accompanied by The
All-Star Jazz Trio.
(Edited from Wikipedia & AllMusic)
