Biography
Peggy King first attracted the notice of Mitch Miller when he heard her performing a radio advertisement for Hunt's Tomato Sauce. Although she released just a handful of albums on Columbia and Candlelite during the 1950s, she became a familiar television presence and sustained a long career as a devoted interpreter of standards. Her strongest visibility came from repeated 1954 appearances on The George Gobel Show, which prompted the nickname "Pretty Perky Peggy King."
Born in Greensburg, PA, in 1930, she started singing at a young age. After her family relocated to Ravenna, OH, she completed high school and business college while performing in Cleveland-area clubs. She next moved into radio and hotel-band work, then entered larger circles by touring with the orchestras of Charlie Spivak, Ray Anthony, and Ralph Flanagan.
Encouraged by the national profile of Flanagan's ensemble, she shifted to Hollywood and studied singing and dancing. Her television debut occurred on Mel Tormé's program, yet her decisive opportunity arrived when Columbia A&R head Mitch Miller heard her Hunt's Tomato Sauce jingle on the radio while driving and subsequently signed her to the label.
Her breakthrough arrived in 1954, when she appeared on both The George Gobel Show and Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. The single "Make Yourself Comfortable" reached the Hit Parade early in 1955, and she issued the albums Girl Meets Boy and Wish Upon a Star that same year. These releases earned an Emmy nomination, and Down Beat named her Best New Singer of 1956. Although her studio activity later slowed, she continued frequent television appearances through the late 1950s and early 1960s. After settling in Philadelphia, she performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and co-wrote and sang the NFL's "The Men Who Played the Game."
Born in Greensburg, PA, in 1930, she started singing at a young age. After her family relocated to Ravenna, OH, she completed high school and business college while performing in Cleveland-area clubs. She next moved into radio and hotel-band work, then entered larger circles by touring with the orchestras of Charlie Spivak, Ray Anthony, and Ralph Flanagan.
Encouraged by the national profile of Flanagan's ensemble, she shifted to Hollywood and studied singing and dancing. Her television debut occurred on Mel Tormé's program, yet her decisive opportunity arrived when Columbia A&R head Mitch Miller heard her Hunt's Tomato Sauce jingle on the radio while driving and subsequently signed her to the label.
Her breakthrough arrived in 1954, when she appeared on both The George Gobel Show and Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. The single "Make Yourself Comfortable" reached the Hit Parade early in 1955, and she issued the albums Girl Meets Boy and Wish Upon a Star that same year. These releases earned an Emmy nomination, and Down Beat named her Best New Singer of 1956. Although her studio activity later slowed, she continued frequent television appearances through the late 1950s and early 1960s. After settling in Philadelphia, she performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and co-wrote and sang the NFL's "The Men Who Played the Game."
Albums
