Music has transitioned through the years. It played a very big role in the 1960's and 1970's. During this time is when women emerged the most and gained more respect. Peggy Lee was one these famous musicians who's music took off by the 1960's. Janis Joplin was another who emerged with "flamboyance and humility," in protest of the war and of female struggles (Lilly 1). Then there was Joni Mitchell, who can be seen as a voice of protest for the Vietnam War draft.
During the time when people were involved in the Civil Rights Movement, the student movements and speaking out against the Vietnam War, a rapid number of people were becoming more interested in the rights of women. These events provided a great model for women on how to effect change. Female blues artists were the first women to be employed by the microphone. For women, establishing themselves as female rock, sound, funk or jazz artists was extremely difficult because the standards society held for women didn't include "music star." But there were many women who pulled it off.
Peggy Lee was one of these women. She was born Norma Deloris Egstrom in Jamestown, North Dakota on May 26, 1920. She began her singing career with high-school glee club, church choir and semi professional college bands. Peggy joined Benny Goodman's band in July 1941. Most of the success she received is credited with the big bands. Peggy said, " I learned more about music from the men I worked with in bands than I have learned anywhere else. They taught me discipline and the value of rehearsing and even how to train Band singing taught us the importance of interplay with musicians. And we had to work close to the arrangement." In July 1942, her first smash hit, " Why Don't You Do Right?" sold over 1,000,000 copies, which made her famous. .
Today Peggy Lee has the top rating as songwriter with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Peggy Lee 4).