Peggy King was discovered by Mitch Miller when he heard the radio jingle for Hunt’s Tomato Sauce. Although she only recorded a few LPs for Columbia and Candlelite in the 1950s, she was a well-known face on television and has remained an ardent interpreter of standards for many decades. King is best known for her 1954 appearances on The George Gobel Show, earning her the nickname “Pretty Perky Peggy King”. King was born in Greensburg, PA in 1930. She began singing at an early stage. She attended Ravenna High School and Business College, while singing in clubs throughout the Cleveland region. After making the switch to radio, she joined a hotel band and then entered the big-time, touring with the orchestras Ray Anthony, Charlie Spivak and Ralph Flanagan. King was inspired by Flanagan’s national success and moved to Hollywood where she learned singing and dancing lessons. Although her television debut was on Mel Torme’s program, King got her big break under unfavorable circumstances. Columbia A
