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Peggi Griffith grew up in a very musical family, everyone singing or playing an instrument. Her father played the guitar and their house was frequently the sight of jam sessions for local musicians. The Mills Brothers were friends, as was Bill Kenney, lead singer of The Inkspots. As a child Peggi vividly remembers exploring The Palomar Theater in Seattle, which her father managed, standing center stage and pretending to be Kay Starr or Billy Holiday, the imaginary audience cheering her on. Her first professional experience as a singer was at age 10, performing Kay Starr’s "Side By Side" at the Grange Hall in Bothell, Washington. That was quickly followed by a series of performances at banquets, trade shows and USO shows at local military bases. One evening during a show at Fort Lewis an executive from Seattle television station KING-TV discovered her talent for singing and song writing. With his help and encouragement Peggi was soon performing on several local children’s shows, the afternoon bandstand program, even during commercial breaks for the "afternoon movie". She continued to play local hotels and taverns, her longest running gig being at the New Yorker Club with Art Mineo’s band in Tacoma, Washington. All the while Peggi kept writing fresh material, may times with the help of her father. The exposure she was receiving led her to begin recording at some of the local independent record labels of the time such as Celestial, Electrocraft, Now and Dalton Records which was purchased by Liberty Records. In 1962 Peggi, under contract with Liberty, recorded two promotional songs for the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, one recorded under the name of her three-year daughter, Kelly Gates. Throughout her life Peggi has had many triumphs and challenges, all the while music has been one of her guiding influences. Sadly, in 1971 Peggi underwent surgery to remove a small growth on her vocal chords and since that time has been unable to sing. Her surviving recordings are a tribute to the talent and determination of this wonderful lady. |
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