President, Peggy Lee Associations 
HOLLY FOSTER WELLS

Moderated by
JOHN DEFARIA
(Composer)

&

ELIZABETH ROSE
(Songwriter/SCL SongArts Co-Chair)

Most of us know the sophisticated force of nature that was Peggy Lee: her voice, her stellar personality, her timeless contributions to the Great American Songbook, and her witty performances on live television. But many may not realize that she was also one of our first contemporary singer-songwriters and owned her own publishing company — a true anomaly in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. In this special program, we’ll take a deep dive into the songwriting career of this multi-talented artist whose creativity and business acumen helped break both glass and sonic ceilings for future songwriters in media. Additionally, this year (2025) marks the 70th anniversary of the release of the classic animated film Lady and the Tramp, of which Ms. Lee wrote and performed the songs “He’s a Tramp,” “La La Lu,” and “The Siamese Cat Song.” An Academy Award® nominated actress, Peggy Lee also voiced four of the film’s characters.

SCL SongArts is honored to welcome Holly Foster Wells, Peggy Lee’s granddaughter, and manager of her estate and publishing. In this seminar, Ms. Wells will share clips, stories, and insights highlighting Ms. Lee’s remarkable songwriting career, her unwavering commitment to her rights as a music creator, and the powerful legacy she left for all of us who create music for media.