Peggy Lee’s Split With Dave Barbour Is Sadder Than They Both Let On
It may sound like a cliché, but “oldies” music really is timeless. And one of its greatest voices is definitely Peggy Lee, who came to prominence after joining Benny Goodman’s big band. On top of that, Lee is also notable because of her relationship with guitarist Dave Barbour, which is technically one of the earliest examples of celebrity couple culture. Their relationship was a rollercoaster, but the way it ended is sadder than you might think.
One of the earliest celebrity couples?
The 1940s, which is when Lee and Barbour started dating, was a decade marked by some great cultural changes. While certainly not as huge as some other celebrity couples, we could say they’re one of the earliest that we remember. That’s quite an achievement, considering how the “famous couples” trend is still very much relevant today.
The secret to love: music
Lee and Barbour’s story all comes down to the music. In fact, their history together started when Lee was a new addition to Benny Goodman’s band. Although Lee was only 21 years old when she joined in 1941, her work was of great importance to her. It changed her life completely.
Guitar players get all the ladies
Not long after Lee joined Goodman, guitarist Dave Barbour was also hired into the band. These were the years when guitar playing was being developed, but Barbour was a real jazz pro. In fact, he was so good that he was the only man in the band to really impress Lee. She just couldn’t resist his musicianship.
…and they keep them
Lee stayed two years in Benny Goodman’s band. But she left the group after Barbour was fired, which happened due to a strict don’t-date-a-female-singer policy Goodman enforced within his band. There was no bad blood between any of them, though. Lee just didn’t feel like staying there and sticking with her career rather than her husband.
