Why Peggy Lee’s ‘Fever’ Still Smolders

Udiscovermusic ^ | July 24, 2025 | Zenobia Ortis

[nickcarraway]

Peggy Lee - Fever (Official Video)

[Bob434]

jammin tune-

[ChildOfThe60s]

Why a video with no Peggy Lee? There is plenty of live footage of her singing it. This “official” video is annoying compared to watching her sing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYxoAJ3Boyc

[Fledermaus]

Elvis did a great cover

[Bob434]

agreed

[windcliff]

Ping

[jjotto]

Improbably from North Dakota, Norma Egstrom smoldered in that song.

PL’s real name reminds me of Doris Kappelhoff.

[dadfly]

agree. one of the great American female singers of that era. great natural voice. perfect intonation. triple threat singing, acting, and song writing. when i heard her in the 70’s, she was past her singing prime, but what a musical talent.

a smoldering, twenty something, standing shoulder to shoulder with the great Benny Goodman and wowing them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zRwze8_SGk.

[Bonemaker]

She was hot for the era...my era!😀

[Fiji Hill]

This version was also a hit.

Fever--Little Willie John (1956)

[Fiji Hill]

Versatile and prolific, she has become one of the swing era’s most recognizable voices, famous for such hits as “Why Don’t You Do Right” and “It’s a Good Day,”

Why Don't You Do Right?--Benny Goodman & His Orchestra; vocal by Peggy Lee (1943)

The original version is considerably different.

Weed Smoker's Dream--The Harlem Hamfats (1936)

[Travelin’ Right]

The McCoys also did a decent cover of Fever

[Mark17]

She was from North Dakota, and I know my dad dated a famous singer, before he met my mother, and before she became famous. I am 99,9% sure it was Peggy Lee.

[Maine Mariner]

She got her start at WDAY radio station with the help of a WDAY employee, Ken Kennedy. He discovered her and convinced her to change his name. He worked at WDAY from 1933 until 1976.

[Maine Mariner]

She got her start on WDAY radio; Ken Kennedy, long time employee and station manager discovered her and convinced her to change her name.

[Mark17]

I remember that radio station, in Fargo, and was also a TV station. I grew up in Grand Forks.

[Bonemaker]

Norwegian!

[dadfly]

no kidding!

[Paladin2]

Thanks for the post/link.

Well done.

[Mark17]

Norwegian

My dad was of Irish descent. His parents were both born in Canada, as my one male ancestor, came over from Ireland, and settled in Ontario (I think, though it could have been Manitoba) My uncle, for whom I am named, died on the infamous Bataan death march, in the Philippines, in 1942. I asked my Air Force friend, to check the Capas, Tarlac National Shrine, to see if he could find my uncle’s name on it. He did indeed, find it. It’s slightly ironic, since my wife is from Davao Del Norte province.