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Peters and Lee
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{{Short description|British folk/pop duo}} {{BLP sources|date=January 2024}} {{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Peters and Lee | image = Peters and lee.jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape = yes<!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = United Kingdom | genre = {{hlist|[[Folk music|Folk]]|[[Pop music|pop]]}} | years_active = {{start date|1970}}β{{end date|1980}}, 1986, 1989, 1992 | label = | associated_acts = | website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} or {{Official URL}} --> | current_members = | past_members = *Lennie Peters *Dianne Lee }} '''Peters and Lee''' were a successful British [[folk music|folk]] and [[pop music|pop]] duo of the 1970s and 1980s, comprising '''Lennie Peters''' (born Leonard George Sargent, 22 November 1931 β 10 October 1992, Enfield, Middlesex) and [[Dianne Lee]] (born Dianne Littlehales, February 1949). ==Background== Lennie Peters was blinded in one eye during a car accident when he was five years old. A thrown brick blinded his other eye when he was sixteen. Before Peters and Lee, he was a pianist playing the London pub scene. He recorded two singles on the [[Oriole Records (UK)|Oriole]] label, "Let the Tears Begin" and "And My Heart Cried" in 1963 and 1964 respectively. In 1966, he recorded "Stranger in Paradise" for [[Pye Records]] and then "Here We Go Again" on the Gemini label in 1970. The latter he would revisit as Peters and Lee in 1976. He teamed up with actress and dancer Dianne Lee (born Dianne Littlehales, February 1949, [[Sheffield]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England) in 1970. Lee would provide backing vocals for Peters' solo act. She was also at the time part of a dance act with her cousin Liz. Their original act was called 'Lennie Peters and Melody' until their management International Artists suggested the name 'Peters and Lee'. Their first performance was with [[Rolf Harris]] on 30 April 1970 at a concert in [[Bournemouth]]. ==Early success== The duo entered the TV talent show ''[[Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)|Opportunity Knocks]]'' in February 1973, which they won for a then-record seven times, the second biggest winners of the show of ever, with such songs as "All Change Places", "I'm Confessin'", "Let It Be Me" and "All I Ever Need is You". Following their TV success, a record contract was soon signed with [[Philips Records]]. They were produced by Philips' A&R man [[Johnny Franz]], and their management company was International Artists, run by showbiz professionals Phyllis Rounce and Laurie Mansfield. Franz found the song that suited them well, and their recording quickly led to a number one hit; "[[Welcome Home (1973 song)|Welcome Home]]" sold over 800,000 copies in Britain. A successful first album, ''[[We Can Make It (Peters and Lee album)|We Can Make It]]'', followed, which also reached the number one position, selling over 250,000 copies. Further single hits followed with "Don't Stay Away Too Long", which reached number three, "By Your Side" which reached number 39, "Rainbow" which reached number 17, "Closer" and "What is Love" at number 53 and "Hey Mr Music Man" at number 16. In the peak of their popularity they recorded two new songs for a movie called "11 Harrowhouse", Day after Day and Long live love. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27QO7yhCOf8) ==TV appearances== The duo were top of the bill at the ''[[Royal Variety Performance]]'' in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/729991 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210113616/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/729991 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2007 |title=Information on the performers of the Royal Variety Show 1973 |website=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |date=16 April 2009 |accessdate=23 September 2010}}</ref> They were also resident guest stars on ''[[The Des O'Connor Show]]''{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} had slots on ''[[The Golden Shot]]'', ''[[Mike and Bernie Winters]]' Show'', ''Presenting [[Nana Mouskouri]]'', ''[[Seaside Special]]'' and [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]]'s show. Peters and Lee had a popular (now [[Lost television broadcast|lost]]) TV series of their own ''[[Meet Peters & Lee]]'',{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} though 3 episodes exist on audio as well as including several Christmas specials made by [[Associated TeleVision|ATV]]. "The Peters and Lee Story" was one Christmas special made for 27 December 1975 which starred Mike and Bernie Winters, [[Cleo Laine]] and [[Aiden J Harvey]], who won ''[[New Faces]]'' in 1974. A special christmas radio show was produced for christmas day 1976 that exists as an audio. Their success made them household names and frequent appearances on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' also kept their record sales steady. After the "Smile" album and the 3 singles it spawned did not chart, Lennie and Di chose to split but still had many contracts to fulfill. So it took 2 years to fulfill all they needed to, so by 1980 they announced their farewell tour and LP. Their last television appearance before their split was ''London Night Out'' in November 1980, in which they performed four songs from their farewell album. And a radio spot on dec 2 at 8pm BBC radio 2 "The last happy song". Their last regular concert. ==Solo and reunion== Lee went on to perform mainly in theatre and acting roles, Her first without Lennie was in Sleeping Beauty in Bournemouth, whilst Peters recorded his only solo album ''Unforgettable'' in 1981 and released three singles, "Record of My Love" in 1981, "Why Me" for Christmas 1982 and "Key Largo" in 1985. Peters also appeared on a few small television slots and appeared briefly as a crime boss in the 1984 film ''[[The Hit (1984 film)|The Hit]]'', but without a huge success. Despite their fame, neither Peters nor Lee could repeat the success they enjoyed whilst together. The pair reunited in 1986 with a new single, "Familiar Feelings", to perform on the nostalgia circuit. The single was promoted on live from the piccadilly and the grumbleweeds show. The duo went on to record two new albums also, one in 1989 simply called ''Peters and Lee'' and the last in 1992 for their 21st anniversary, before Peters' death from bone cancer that same year, aged 60. Their final television appearance was ''[[Pebble Mill at One|Pebble Mill]]'' in February 1992 with a short interview and a performance of the hit "Hey Mister Music Man". Sporting a broken arm, Peters' illness was apparent. Lee went on to marry [[Rick Price (bassist)|Rick Price]] of [[Wizzard]] and recorded a solo album ''Chemistry'' in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rickprice.co.uk/rp_027.htm |title=PriceLee |access-date=19 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330150003/http://rickprice.co.uk/rp_027.htm |archive-date=30 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ==Discography== {{Main|Peters and Lee discography}} *''[[We Can Make It (Peters and Lee album)|We Can Make It]]'' (1973) *''By Your Side'' (1973) *''Rainbow'' (1974) *''Favourites'' (1975) *''Serenade'' (1976) *''Invitation'' (1976) *''Smile'' (1977) *''Love and Affection'' (1979) *''The Farewell Album'' (1980) *''Peters & Lee'' (1989) *''Through All the Years'' (1992) SOLO LENNIE PETERS Unforgettable LP (1981 celebrity records) SINGLES A record of my love / I just need you (1981 EMI) Why me/ I got Faith in you (Lifestyle 1982) Key Largo/ I love both of you (Relax 1985) DIANNE LEE Chemistry 1994 (at her shows only) RICK AND DIANNE Live 2001 (at their shows only) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [[Mark Wirtz]] (producer) [http://markwirtz0.tripod.com/markpwirtz/id9.html discography] {{Authority control}} [[Category:English folk musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1970]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:English musical duos]] [[Category:Folk music duos]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
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