Peggy's 92nd birthday - museum opening, tribute concerts (and an update on other stuff)

Hi Everyone,

I know that Wes has posted about this, but I wanted to also add my two-cents. I am really excited about the opening of the Peggy Lee Exhibit at the Midland Continental Depot Museum. My grandmother didn’t say much about what she wanted us to do with her memorabilia, but one thing she did say is that she would like to “do something for North Dakota.” I think she would be thrilled with how this exhibit turned out. You can see some photos of it on our Facebook page: [www.facebook.com]

The museum is located in an old train depot in the town of Wimbledon. The depot was home to my grandmother and her family from 1934 through 1937 (her father was the railroad station agent). We opened up our archives to the museum folks, and their exhibit designer spent days here scanning my grandmother’s photos, memorabilia and personal papers. I am so excited that my family and I will no longer be the only ones enjoying these special items. The grand opening of the museum will take place on Saturday, May 26th, what would have been my grandmother’s 92nd birthday.

Completing the birthday weekend will be two Peggy Lee tribute concerts performed by the wonderful Stacy Sullivan (accompanied by the accomplished duo of Jon Weber and Steve Doyle). Stacy, Jon and Steve are going to deliver to the people of North Dakota a gift that my grandmother left behind – a song that she wrote just for them entitled “The Folks Back Home” (music by Paul Horner). I haven’t heard this song performed live since my grandmother and Paul wrote it back in 1983. My understanding is that Stacy is in the process of recording a CD of her Peggy Lee tribute, so you will soon be able to hear this "new" song for yourselves.

The tribute concert information is as follows:
Friday, May 25th Reiland Theater at Jamestown College
Saturday, May 26th The Stage at Island Park in Fargo
For information on tickets and show times, please contact Kate Stevenson at 701-952-8253.

This will be my first trip to North Dakota, and I can’t wait to see the places I have heard about for so long. My brothers and their families will also be making the trip with me. If you happen to live in the area, I hope you’ll join us for this special weekend.

If you’re interested in reading more about the museum opening and concerts, please check out this article:

[valleycity.localtoolbox.com]

And, if you would like to read a blog about the Peggy Lee Exhibit, written by the researcher/designer, Megan Whitaker, scroll down to her section here (I got to know the lovely Megan very well since she was at my home scanning for days on end):

[www.seareach.com]

In other news, the Peggy Lee/Reese Witherspoon movie project continues to move ahead, though not as quickly as one might hope. I am learning that this is the norm in Hollywood, so I am trying to be patient as the script is written (and re-written) and budgets are prepared.

Another exciting thing that we are working on is the launch of an online Peggy Lee Store that will feature merchandise and music. I will keep you posted! We’re always on the mission of getting more music released. It seems like a simple enough thing to do, but let me tell you, this music business is fairly maddening. Again, I am learning to push ahead, but also be patient.

Some of you have kindly asked about my mother, Nicki. She is hanging in there, but it’s been a tough road for her health-wise these past few years. She goes in-and-out of checking email and Facebook (by her own admission, she seems to be technologically challenged). At any rate, whenever anyone asks about her, I always let her know. Thanks to those of you who have inquired.

Sending my very best to you all!

Holly

We are so excited about the events to come in North Dakota!

Here is a bit more about Stacy Sullivan's Tribute to Miss Peggy Lee in Jamestown:

The show will be at 7:30 PM on May 25 at Reiland Fine Arts Center on the Jamestown College campus.

Tickets are on sale in Jamestown and Valley City. Ticket prices are $15 regular adult admission; $12 seniors (65+); $10 youth and college; $20 at the door.

In Jamestown, they can be bought at Hugos, Cork & Barrel and Globe Travel (Jackie Tarpinian, who owns Globe Travel is the niece of the man who first sponsored Norma Egstrom to sing for KOVC Radio. He was the manager of the Valley City Rudolph Hotel at the time).

In Valley City, tickets are available at the Barnes County Museum (thanks to Wes Anderson!) and Unique Antiques (in the building where Norma sang with a college band when still in high school in Wimbledon).

A very limited number of VIP tickets are still available at $50 each and include front-of-house seating and VIP reception following the performance. Call me at 701.952.8253 to reserve any tickets. Since the college box office is closed for the season, I will handle all out-of-town ticket requests.

In the lobby, there will be a display of Peggy Lee albums, music, and memorabilia, including an original dress of Peggy Lee's, a dress suit and an original painting by Peggy Lee. Most of the items are from my collection, but the clothing items are on loan from Dave Gladspell of Bismarck whose mother knew the singer and received the clothing as gifts many years ago.

I will post details about the Fargo show too.

Here is an excerpt from the press release for the Fargo show on Peggy Lee's 92nd birthday with all ticketing information.

Fargo’s recently-renovated The Stage at Island Park will host a special concert at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 26th, featuring accomplished jazz trio performing the legendary music of North Dakota native Peggy Lee on legendary star’s birthday.

Critically-acclaimed vocalist Stacy Sullivan is joined by master jazz pianist Jon Weber and accomplished bassist Steve Doyle in “A Tribute To Miss Peggy Lee,” a show that has filled venues from coast to coast and garnered impressive critical reviews as an interpretive exploration of Lee, including the extraordinary music and the personal struggles of a woman whose voice captivated millions—all part of an elegant and loving homage highlighting the classic songs, intricate rhythms, and exquisite arrangements that defined Lee’s career.

Tickets for the May 26th Fargo performance of “A Tribute to Miss Peggy Lee” are $20 for reserved seating and are available at The Stage at Island Park box office at 333 4th Street South in Fargo, or by calling the box office at 701-235-6778. Tickets at the door will be $25.

A very limited number of VIP tickets also will be available for $40 and will include preferred seating and a reception following the performance in The Stage’s beautiful Gazebo.

Kate Stevenson
Jamestown, ND

Here's a short article about some of the festivities planned for Peggy's birthday weekend in North Dakota (opening of the Peggy Lee Museum and two tribute concerts by Stacy Sullivan). The article includes a couple of audio clips from Kate Stevenson.

[www.newsdakota.com]

Also, this month's Martini in the Morning newsletter features an article about Peggy (which I happen to have written):

[martiniinthemorning.com]

Holly

Holly Foster-Wells and Stacy Sullivan are interviewed in an article in today's Jamestown Sun:

[www.jamestownsun.com]

David

Holly, I am a jazz and blues singer and an avid Peggy Lee fan. I've been told I sound a lot like her and that I do FEVER justice.

Several years ago, I had a DVD that was a Peggy Lee documentary with interviews with Nicki. I cannot find it and want to repurchase it. Any idea where to start looking?

The reason I ask is because I am developing a piece for Greenville Chautauqua and that would be helpful. Are you familiar with Chautauqua? Here's an article I just completed about it. [www.ourupstatesc.info]

Any help or advice would be much appreciated!

Sincerely,
Jean Calvert

[www.jeancalvert.com]

(You can hear me do ALL RIGHT, OKAY, YOU WIN on my website.)

Here are some recent articles regarding Peggy, the museum exhibit, the tribute concerts, the 90th anniversary of WDAY, etc.

[www.inforum.com]

[www.inforum.com]

[www.inforum.com]

[www.inforum.com]

David

Here are four articles about Peggy -- plus a poem that she wrote in 1937 -- just published in the Jamestown Sun:

[www.jamestownsun.com]

[www.jamestownsun.com]

[www.jamestownsun.com]

[www.jamestownsun.com]

[www.jamestownsun.com]

Here's an editorial in today's Jamestown Sun about the Peggy Lee exhibit:

[www.jamestownsun.com]

And here's a short TV segment about this weekend's tributes:

[www.wday.com]

Here are two more articles from the InForum:

[www.inforum.com]

[www.inforum.com]

An article in today's Jamestown Sun:

[www.jamestownsun.com]

Yesterday, Peggy's daughter Nicki visited the Peggy exhibit at the Midland Continental Depot Museum, resulting in this article in the Jamestown Sun:

[www.jamestownsun.com]

David