Peggy Lee Spreads Her Magic Over 3,200 Fans in SPAC Performance

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, July 19, 1971

The magic of Peggy Lee on the vast Saratoga Performing Arts Center stage with a single spotlight on her face is unbelievable and, with more than 3,200 attending last night, she proved beyond a question of a doubt why she is one of the top singers in the country today.

A hard worker, she sang for well over an hour, everything from Beatles’ and Bread songs to her greatest standard hits, “Fever,” “Big Spender,” “Manana,” “Why Don’t You Do Right?” and dozens more.

Turned On

That husky voice, those low, sexy notes, often almost whispered, really turned on the well-dressed audience and they would have been happy to have had her sing the night through. And she seemed perfectly willing to do so.

Miss Lee is the true epitome of a standup, straight singer, no doubt the result of so many years in nightclub work. She stands directly in front of the microphone, never takes it off the stand to wander all around the stage like so many singers do and works perfectly with her orchestra.

Last night she was backed by one of the best 22-piece orchestras we’ve ever heard backing a singer in the six years of SPAC. This was due in no small measure to her conductor, Lou Levy, well-known in the business for providing music for top singers on tour.

Miss Lee was at her best in the ballad, “The Torch Song,” and really broke it up with her version of Helen Morgan’s immortal “My Man,” that had to be heard to be believed. This is some kind of a real pro singer and if anyone tries to start a rumor that Peggy Lee has had it, that her voice and magnetism are gone, forget it. She is stronger and more compelling as a performer than ever and there is no question she will be asked back another year at SPAC.

For the fashion-minded, she wore a flowing, white chiffon gown with deep V in front and back, and an emerald necklace and white shoes. Her blond hair was tuffed way out with curls on the sides and down the back.

Opener Disappointing

The audience got a rude disappointment with the opening act, something called Main Street East which proved to be 12 Rochester musicians doing rock and certainly not meant to open a show starring someone of the sophisticated caliber of Peggy Lee.

Scheduled to do 45 minutes, they must have gotten the message of annoyance from the audience so thankfully ended their portion at 30 minutes.

Audiences at these specials are becoming more and more annoyed with having to sit through a first half of something not connected with the star until the main performer appears.

This seems to happen every time and it is too bad that SPAC is apparently forced to book the stars in this “package” fashion. With only few exceptions have the stars ever appeared for both halves in all six years.

But the audience forgot its displeasure last night once the fabulous Miss Lee started singing and they even forgot the
very cold, damp weather which undoubtedly kept the audience down.

Tonight it will be the New York City Ballet Brass Quintet in the fourth in the series of Chamber Music Concerts at
8:30 at Canfield Casino. The ballet will resume tomorrow at SPAC at 8:30 p.m.