The official Peggy Starr page
In a career spanning more than three decades, the “inimitable” Peggy Starr was one of the U.K.’s highest paid female singers of the 20th century.
As a highly successfully prodigy of the bandleader and songwriter Bob Parr, Peggy’s singing
style revolutionized the big band sound of the 1950’s.
In the 1960’s, Peggy turned to writing and recording her own songs, cementing her talent as an exciting and original worldwide phenomenon. Hit recordings, record breaking sell-out concerts and spectacular TV appearances secured Peggy’s place in the hearts of audiences everywhere.
BIOGRAPHY (b.1934 – present day)
Born Margaret May Edwards, Peggy grew-up in Llanelli, southwest Wales along with her much beloved older sister, Janet. As a young girl Peggy learned to sing and play the piano in the local pubs, entertaining the grown-ups with popular songs of the day. Peggy always wanted a piano of her own but the only instrument she owned was a ukulele: a present her mother bought for her fourteenth birthday.
At 18 years old, Peggy, left Wales for London. She quickly found a job as cleaner. The story goes that Bob Parr discovered Peggy humming one of his most famous hit tunes – “A Man Like Me” – whilst she was cleaning in his London home! Bob Parr was a popular bandleader and singer-songwriter of the 1940’s. “Bob Parr and The Bob Parr All Stars” were well-known across the country and featured regularly on the BBC Radio shows Variety Bandbox & Friday Night Is Music Night.
Twice-divorced, Bob instantly recognised Peggy’s incredible singing talent. Together they successfully toured the country with Bob’s band, featuring Peggy as their lead vocalist.
Rare Variety flyer featuring Peggy and Bob before her name changed
In 1956 Bob wrote Peggy’s first hit single “Here We Go”. He also gave Peggy her new name, Peggy “Starr”. Peggy launched both during her debut broadcast for the BBC radio show, Friday Night Is Music Night. The song took her to the top of the charts, the first of many number one hits. In the spring of 1958 Peggy and Bob celebrated their success by getting married.
“Friday Night Is Music Night” 1956 Radio Times listing
“Happy, Bright & Useful” UK hit single cover
A string of pop hits followed, including the 1962 Top 10 smash “Happy, Bright & Useful” – a song Peggy dedicated to her sister, Janet.
Peggy’s spectacular 1963 debut on ITV’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium – belting out what was to be her next number one song “With All My Heart” – secured her a permanent place in the nation’s heart. She went on to give many more highly successful and eagerly anticipated performances on the hit variety show. Peggy Starr was soaring!
TV Times 1964 front cover with the nation’s favourite
In 1964 Peggy and Bob divorced. Around the same time Peggy released her first solo LP – “Something’s Starting” – featuring what was to be another number one hit record. Many more hits followed. Between 1964 and 1968 Peggy had four consecutive number ones and three chart topping albums.
“Something’s Starting” Album cover. Peggy’s million selling debut as a singer songwriter
In the mid-sixties Peggy moved to Hollywood with her second husband, the English matinée idol Larry Hanson. Peggy’s sister Janet – working for many years as Peggy’s invaluable personal assistant – joined the pair in America. After a tragic accident left Janet blind, Peggy lovingly gave up singing for several years to help her sister rehabilitate.
Happily, Peggy returned to song writing in 1969, composing the smash song “Tell Me Darling”, the theme to her husband’s first film blockbuster of the same name. The song was recorded by international superstar Kiki Kavelle and became Peggy’s first international No.1.
“Tell Me Darling” 1970 film poster
featuring Kiki Kavelle’s international no.1 penned by Peggy
“Tropicana Hotel” 1971 Las Vegas postcard during Peggy’s 3-week residency
The success of the song propelled Peggy back into the spotlight as a performer. In 1971 Peggy was the only British singer since Tom Jones to headline in Las Vegas. Peggy’s three- week residency at The Tropicana Hotel was one of Peggy’s most memorable engagements. Rumour has it there is a bootleg recording of opening night for those fans lucky enough to find a copy.
In 1972 Peggy returned to London to begin a series of new and exciting recordings. Her fans had been without a new album for many years. But the recordings weren’t a happy time for Peggy. Larry was away on location shooting film after film leaving Peggy feeling abandoned. This started a period of self-destruction. Frequent reports of Peggy in drunken altercations became headline news.
Happily, rehabilitation for the fallen Starr was soon to come. A single release in 1974 of her impassioned torch song “What The Hell Is It For?” saw Peggy return to where she belonged at the very top of the charts. Peggy was back! She celebrated by returning to Wales, hiring The Capitol Theatre in Cardiff for a One Night Only concert, selling out all 3158 seats in just four days! Fans gave Peggy a standing ovation before, during and after her bravura performance. The evening was recorded for a double LP that gave Peggy her first gold album.
Evening News “Starr Struck!” 1974 news hoarding in darker times
“Capitol Theatre” poster 1974 for Peggy’s sell-out comeback concert
Discography
1958 – “Here We Go” written by Bob Parr / sung by Peggy Starr
1959 – “Too Long” written by Bob Parr / sung by Peggy Starr
1960 – “Happy Bright & Useful” written by Bob Parr / sung by Peggy Starr
1963 – “With All My Heart” written by Bob Parr / sung by Peggy Starr
1964 – “Something’s Starting” written & sung by Peggy Starr
1965 – “Next Stop” written & sung by Peggy Starr
1966 – “Trying” written & sung by Peggy Starr
1967 – “A Child’s Cry” written & sung by Peggy Starr
1968 – “Be A Friend” written & sung by Peggy Starr
1970 – “Tell Me Darling” written by Peggy Star / sung by Kiki Kavelle
1974 – “What The Hell Is It For?” written & sung by Peggy Starr
1974 – “Free To Be Me” written & sung by Peggy Starr
“Peggy Starr always knocks them dead. She has PERSONALITY!”
“Wales’ very own SWEETHEART”
“ETHEL MERMAN combined with EDITH PIAF… that’s PEGGY STARR!”
“A KILLER VOICE. My inspiration”
© All Rights Reserved to Peggy Starr's Fan Club 2001
