When Ed Sullivan welcomed Peggy Lee to his show, he announced her as ‘One of the greatest of all time.’ His words rang true throughout her performance of ‘How Long Has This Been Going On?’
Peggy Lee delivers a sultry, smooth vocal that amazes the audience. She’s wearing a form-fitting black dress that causes her iconic blonde hair to stand out.
Midway through, the camera decides to zoom in on Peggy’s face for the rest of the song. Peggy notices this happening and plays to the camera, even lifting her eyebrow playfully.
The backing jazz orchestra keeps the vibe mellow throughout the tune. The bass guitar leads the rhythm while other instruments lay back, playing softly. The muted trumpets add to the style that is purely known by the brothers George and Ira Gershwin.
Peggy Lee was born Norma Egstrom. She was an American jazz and pop singer, songwriter, composer, and actress. Her career lasted seven decades and included singing with Benny Goodman’s famous band.
Peggy recorded over 1,100 songs and was credited as composer on 270 tunes. She was nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, and in 1995, she was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The audience loves the performance, and Peggy breaks character at the end to acknowledge their applause with a huge smile. Peggy Lee’s gorgeous rendition shows her incredible talent and star power.
