Through my 32 plus year career I have had access to some of the most wonderful people anyone could imagine. Early on I was so blessed to become best friends with Miss Peggy Lee and in time I would become a confidant of Miss Lee’s and her family. As to an experience, I still remember vividly driving up to Miss Lee’s Bel Air mansion, I was driving a 1992 Cadillac 60 Special, black of course! That day still remains a mystery to me, when I left after dinner I was floating on cloud nine. The very same person I and my entire family watched on the Ed Sullivan on Sunday nights, singing ‘FEVER’ I had just had dinner with. Miss Lee was always gorgeous, always dressed to the nines, a real legend of the screen and the music industry and she would become my friend.
That first time I was invited up to the mansion that was the home of Miss Peggy Lee that as I have mentioned was magical. Miss Lee’s assistant Jane, a very joyful sort called me and told me that Miss Lee wanted to speak to me in person and would I please come to the house for dinner. Upon my arrival it was a mansion just like you would think such an American Icon would be living in, just majestic. I was escorted into an incredible sitting area with a very large pink Steinway piano. On the top of that piano was a beautiful heavy glass frame with a caricature of Miss Peggy Lee, that very same framed picture is now in my master bedroom in a place of honor. After Miss Lee’s death it was gifted to me by Nicky (daughter) and Holly (Grand Daughter), might not seem like a great deal but to me it was a priceless gesture by the family.
Over the years I would spend many holidays and formal dinners at the home of Miss Lee and the laughs, oh my god we had laughs. Easter was always a favorite and the cooking in preparation for thanksgiving and Christmas was always the best of the best. My sarcastic word bombs were an opportunity for a great return from the great one herself. The thought of Miss Lee’s request for a small bag of rocks to get the attention of one particular staff member. So many stories Miss Lee and I shared, as a little child my sister Rena would take me to see ‘Lady and the Tramp’. It was without a question one of my favorite Disney movies even into my very old age. Well as it would happen Disney was re-releasing the movie on DVD and I was invited up to the house for a special dinner prepared by Miss Lee’s personal chef, Lillie Mae! Guess what, it was a dinner only for myself and Miss Peggy Lee, I was mesmerized, here I was sitting and watching “ Lady and the Tramp” with the very person who did the original movie! I realized that Miss Lee was getting as big of kick out of me as I was watching the movie!
Another time we were all having dinner, dinner was always an event and it was going to be memorable. Interesting fact, if you came to dinner 100 times, you always saw the same faces, I was the newest one at the table and I always sat to Miss Lee’s right at the head of the table. During the dinner a conversation began about Elizabeth Taylor and what a great actress she was. I could not help notice that Miss Lee’s finger was flat on the table, incredible manicure with a great big diamond on her finger. The index finger was tapping as if to some music that was playing, the problem was there was no music playing. After a few minutes several of the regulars realized the silence at the end of the table where I sat with the “ Boss “. Miss Lee glanced at me and in a fashion known only to the infamous Miss Peggy Lee, she stated, “ But can she sing? “. It was timing that only someone like Miss Peggy Lee could pull off, I dam near dropped my bread into my soup! Through the years I would attend Miss Lee’s granddaughter’s wedding to Dan. The fact that I was her bodyguard and friend she was always comfortable with me in close quarters. Miss Lee made the introduction to Mr. Sinatra when he needed some assistance with an issue. Years later Miss Lee and I would attend Frank Sinatra’s funeral at The Good Shepherd church, another very sad day. My time with Miss Peggy Lee was not long enough, the world realizes there will never be anyone such as these music legends again.
It was through Miss Lee that I would become acquainted with Nancy Reagan, if I was trusted by Miss Peggy Lee that was all the credential I needed, more on that later. There was one lawyer in particular that would show up to dinner who had somehow endeared himself and Miss Lee did not like him. Miss Lee found it entertaining to have him at times to sit across from me and did I mention that he hated me, no I am not over stating this. Problem was that if he really pissed me off I would step on him like the insect he was and this Miss Lee found all of this really entertaining. *** One year this idiot gave Miss Lee a pair of cashmere socks for Christmas, those socks are likely being enjoyed by some homeless person as they were donated shortly after arriving at the mansion!
The Miss Peggy Lee Christmas tree was something to see, there were balloons of many colors placed inside the branches and the lights, it was magnificent. (Jose was the houseman and made sure everything that needed taking care of was in deed taken care of ) The other thing was there was never just one tree, those holidays were always so memorable, I miss them. There has been time we have placed balloons inside our Christmas trees in remembrance.
There are so many stories that I can recall, the purpose of this reflection is just that, me recalling my time with my friend, Miss Peggy Lee. The Apple Pan in Westwood, California is another fun time when the Limousine would circle while I ran in to get a few things that we were going to enjoy together while watching TV or listening to music. One of the most important people in the life of Miss Peggy Lee was her granddaughter and later Holly’s entire family, enough on that subject too. The beautiful black Cadillac Seville, incredible, did I mention that Miss Lee did not drive?
As I never left her alone in life, that when Miss Peggy Lee died I and my son Mike would escort Miss Lee for her final time on this earth. That is all I will say on this subject, I love and miss her still to this day.