Peggy Lee and Jeri Southern

Hi Youall,

I was reading the booklet insert on the CD Jeri Southern, The Decca Years. Gene Lees wrote that Jeri was working on a book of piano arrangements of songs by her friend Peggy Lee. He wrote that one sunny afternoon he telephoned Peggy and asked her how she was doing.. She replied "I'm very sad, Jeri Southern died this morning." She died of double pneumonia. Jeri Southern was very talented. She was good to listen to, especially late at night, very soothing and sang many of the great ballads. It's nice to know that she and Peggy were friends.

It will soon be Christmas and I wish all of you a Merry Merry Christmas and all good things for the New Year.

Ruth

Hello Ruth,

Fascinating! I never knew that Jeri Southern was friends with Peggy. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. Still waiting for a new DVD by Peggy... maybe 2012 is the year.

I just listened to Peggy's Christmas CD "Christmas Carousel". What's your favourite Christmas song by Peggy? I think she recorded the best version of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town ever. Christmas Carousel is her own song which I enjoy very much.

Richard

favorite Christmas songs (in no particular order):

The Golden Wedding Ring -- this has the same wistful optimism as The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Peace On Earth/Silent Night -- a gentle acknowledgement of our mission to strive for peace
Silver Bells -- the radio duet with Bing Crosby, with her notes falling like snowflakes
My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year) -- an appropriate reflection for all of us

"Dear Ruth"

Thank you for all your interesting comments/questions to this board. In the 50s when Peggy and Jeri were at Decca I had heard that they had become friends. Peggy's ex-husband, Dave Barbour, even recorded with Jeri for her first 10-inch LP. I also think that Peggy recorded one of Jeri's songs on her Guitars ala Lee, "Touch the Earth."

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year.

Regards,
michael W.

Thank you Michael for your good wishes. I didn't know of Peggy's friendship with Jeri nor that Jeri recorded Peggy's song. I not only wish you a Merry Christmas but a very kind New Year for all. While writing this I heard this on the radio:

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth
Goodwill to men

Let's hope this will happen.

Ruth

Peggy was actually instrumental in the advance of Jeri's career. Back when they didn't know one another, and when Jeri had yet to record anything, Peggy was in Chicago and went to see Anita O'Day's act at the Hi-Note. The intermission act was Jeri, and Peggy was totally captivated by her singing. Hence Peggy started to spread the word about it, telling people such as Sonny Burke at Decca. Eventually, Decca's Milt Gabler (alerted by either Sonny or Peggy herself) went to see Jeri, and signed her to Decca. It is no surprise, then, to find out that Dave Barbour was at the helm of one of Jeri's earliest albums. (Dave and Peggy were divorced by that time, but they remained on friendly terms. Since Dave did not have a recording contract with Decca, I imagine that Peggy might have been instrumental in his hiring for this project, too.)

Peggy and Jeri were not bosom buddies or close friends, but they did see one another socially, and kept in touch over the years. Jeri ranked Peggy among her favorite singers, and played her records at home. For her part, Peggy was once going to hire Jeri to work on a music project at Peggy's home, but ultimately the project was not followed through. (It might have been the book of piano arrangements to which Gene Lees alludes in his liner notes.)

Jeri Southern wrote a few songs -- not too many -- out of which "Touch the Earth" might be the best-known one. She always wrote music, not lyrics. Jeri spent some of her post 1960s years teaching piano, and even wrote a book geared toward pianist-singers...

Ivan