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 In 1943, Click magazine did a pictorial called "Double Up for the Duration," about two young singers sharing expenses as roommates in Manhattan during wartime. The two blondes were real-life best pals Peggy Lee and Jane Leslie (nee Larrabee). Peggy was from South Dakota, and had been singing with Benny Goodman; Jane, from Minnesota, worked in various Manhattan clubs including The Famous Door. |
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It was there that she
saw a skinny, cute young guy at the bar one night, in the midst of being bawled out by
Louis Armstrong’s manager Joe Glaser. It was Leonard Feather, being taken to task for
something he’d written and looking rather embarrassed. Leonard and Jane met and fell
in love, and soon got married at City Hall with Red Norvo as best man. The newlyweds
moved to an apartment on the top floor of One Sheridan Square, a building that also
housed Cafe Society Downtown. They were together until Leonard passed away - almost
half a century. Peggy married guitarist Dave Barbour and left the business for a few
years, but returned to establish herself as one of the great jazz/pop singers, a fine
songwriter as well.
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