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Born: May 26th, 1945 in Lumberton, North Carolina, USA.
Died: May 19, 2024

Soul singer, actress and vocal coach, originally from New York now based in Los Angeles.
As well as her own solo releases, she has appeared on numerous recordings as a backing vocalist in records of Lou Courtney, Quincy Jones, Manhattans, Stephanie Mills and others.

1986 Star Search Grand Championship Winner (Female Vocalist).

Wife of guitarist Ted Perlman.

May 19, 2024) The world first discovered the unique vocal stylngs of Peggy Blu when she was crowned Grand Champion on the television talent contest Star Search in 1986, and that began a career where Blu became a icon among her peers and one of the most respected women in soul music. We are sad to report today the passing of Ms. Blu. Tributes have been pouring in online from Blu's musical friends. Her cause of death has not yet been reported.

The North Carolina born Blu began singing as a child, and she took her talent to a bigger stage when her family allowed her to relocate to New York at age 14 with her uncle, Bishop Walter, whose traveling Gospel choir she joined. She also was singing with the popular Nat Lewis Singers while still in high school.

Blu began her career as a session vocalist in the mid-70s on various Gospel recordings, but it expanded to a role as one of the most popular backing vocalists in the business. Blu supported a virtual “who’s who” of popular artists ranging from Barbra Streisand to Bob Dylan to Quincy Jones to Stephanie Mills.

With her name growing in music industry circles, Blu was signed to MCA Records in the 1980s, where she landed the hits “All The Way With You” and “Tender Moments.”

At the turn of the century, Blu reached new heights as the vocal coach on the smash television show American Idol. She also resuscitated her recording career, issuing the 2002 album Livin’ On Love on the UK label Expansion Records, and guesting on albums by the popular European production team Cool Million.

Peggi Blu was never a household name, but hers was a reputation that glimmered among her peers in the music world. May she rest in peace.

ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


Quincy Jones
The Story Of Quincy Jones
2022, LP, Album, RE, 180 + 2xLP, Album, 180 + LP, Album,, Vinyl Me, Please,
Bob Dylan
Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 1980–1985
2021
Archie Shepp
Things Have Got To Change / The Cry Of My People
2015
Bob Dylan
The Complete Album Collection Vol. One
2013, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, 2x CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, 2x CD, CD, 2x CD, CD, CD, CD, 2x CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, 2x CD, Box Set, ,
Folk Rock/Folk/Acoustic/Country/Bluegrass/Soundtrack/Country Rock/Gospel/Blues Rock/Rockabilly
Cool Million
III
2012, CD, ,
Soul/Funk/Disco
Leonard Cohen
The Complete Studio Albums Collection
2011, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, Box Set, ,
Ballad/Folk Rock
Various
Christmas At Sedsoul
2010, CD, Comp, Sedsoul, ,
Soul/Funk/Holiday
Cool Million
Back For More
2010, CD, ,
Soul/Funk/Disco
The Manhattans*
Men Cry Too
2008, CD, Album, Spice Island Records, Love Lee Records Inc., S.D.E.G. Records, ,
Soul
David Nathan (2), Pharaoh's Dream
Wistful Elegance
2007, CD, Nefer Music
Nita Whitaker
LifeStories
2006, CD, Album, Not On Label (Nita Whitaker Self-released)
Dee Bradley
The Candy Man
2006, CD, Album, Evejim Records
Andreas Hellingh
Soul Exposed
2005, CD, Comp, Expansion
Will Wheaton
Old School Soul
2005, CD, Album, Platinum Bass Records
Various
Spirit & Song 2: More Resources For Prayer & Worship
2005, 10xCD, Album, Spirit And Song, ,
Vocal/Folk/Neofolk/Gospel/Religious
Alice Cooper
Dirty Diamonds
2005, CD, ,
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Ron Dante
Saturday Night Blast
2004, CD, Album, Artists Voice Records
Terry Bradford
Unanimous
2003, CD, Album, Infini-T Records
Young M.C.*
Engage The Enzyme
2002, CD, Album, Stimulus Records
Nita Whitaker
One Voice
2001, CD, Album, LML Music, ,
Soul
Craig Laforest
Two Lives (The Songs Of Richard And Karen Carpenter)
2001, CD, Album, Earth Tones Music
Gerald Alston & Blue Lovett*, The Manhattans*
...Even Now...
2001, ,
Soul
Various
Vibrafinger
1999, CD, Comp, BGP Records
Various
Transcendence - Impulse! In The Spiritual Groove
1999, CD, Comp, Impulse!
Gerry Goffin
Back Room Blood
1996, CD, ,
Blues Rock/Pop Rock
Christopher Young
Set It Off (Original Motion Picture Score)
1996
Melissa Manchester
If My Heart Had Wings
1995, ,
Big Band/Downtempo/Ballad/Vocal
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3
1994
Sonya Barry
The World Is Like A Shadow
1993, CD, Album, Born Again Records, ,
Gospel
Young MC
What's The Flavor?
1993, CD,
Aaron Neville
The Grand Tour
1993
Various
Soul Sauce Sampler Vol.1
1992, 12", Ltd, Smplr, Expansion
Mona Lisa*
Partners In Pleasure
1992, CD, ,
RnB/Swing/Ballad
Leonard Cohen
The Future
1992, Vinyl, ,
Folk/Pop Rock
Cherrelle
The Woman I Am
1991
張清芳*
La California 迫不及待
1991
Thelma Houston
Throw You Down
1990
Kylie*
Rhythm Of Love
1990
Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan
1990, ,
House/Pop Rock/Synth-pop
Various
Urban Cruising
1989, CD, Comp, Capitol Records, ,
RnB/Swing/Soul
Bianca
Forever
1989
Quincy Jones
Back On The Block
1989, Vinyl Specialty Pressing, ,
House/Contemporary R&B
Tracy Chapman
Crossroads
1989, Vinyl Specialty Pressing, ,
Folk Rock
The Manhattans*
Sweet Talk
1989
Bob Dylan
Down In The Groove
1988, Vinyl, ,
Folk Rock/Classic Rock
Barbra Streisand
Till I Loved You
1988, Vinyl, ,
Vocal/Ballad
Ronee Martin
Sensation
1987, Cass, Album, TP, Bernie Grundman Mastering
Ronee Martin
Sensation
1987, CD, ,
Downtempo/Soul/Ballad
Bert Robinson
No More Cold Nights
1987
Bob Dylan
Got My Mind Made Up
1986, Vinyl, ,
Folk Rock/Pop Rock
Bob Dylan
Knocked Out Loaded
1986
Brian Setzer
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
1986, Vinyl,
Brian Setzer
The Knife Feels Like Justice
1986
Robin Clark
Surrender
1985, LP, Album, HME Records, ,
Soul/Funk
Bob Dylan
Empire Burlesque
1985, Vinyl Pitman Pressing, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock
The Weather Girls
Success
1983, Vinyl, ,
Disco
The Weather Girls
Success
1983
Stephanie Mills
Merciless
1983, Vinyl 26, ,
Soul
Stephanie Mills
Tantalizingly Hot
1982, Vinyl 53 - Hauppauge Pressing, ,
Disco/Ballad/Soul
Minister Louis Farrakhan*
Heed The Call Ya'll
1980, 2xLP, Gat, Final Call Records
Various
Fame - The Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture
1980
The Chris Hinze Combination
Bamboo Magic
1978
Elkie Brooks
Two Days Away
1977, Vinyl, ,
Soft Rock/Pop Rock
The Metropole Symphonic Orchestra* With The Chris Hinze Combination
Parcival
1976
Esther Phillips With Beck*
For All We Know
1976, Vinyl, ,
Soul
Various
Ellingtonia, Volume Two (The Impulse Years)
1974
Lou Courtney
I'm In Need Of Love
1974
Akim & The Teddy Vann Production Company*
Santa Claus Is A Black Man
1973, LP, Simtone
Archie Shepp
The Cry Of My People
1973, Vinyl, ,
Free Jazz/Big Band
Various
Luxury Soul 2025
2025, 3xCD, Comp, Expansion
Groove Junkies
15 Years Of Morehouse
2017, 2xFile, WAV, Mixed, RM + 22xFile, WAV, Comp, Morehouse Records
Various
Disco Discharge. Pink Pounders
2010, 2xCD, Comp, Harmless
Various
Luxury Soul 2007
2007, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Expansion, ,
Soul/Funk/Neo Soul
Various
Soul Cafe
2007, 3xCD, Comp, Expansion
Stephanie Mills
Gold
2006, 2xCD, Comp, Hip-O Records
Various
Luxury Soul 2006
2006, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Expansion, ,
Soul
Various
Luxury Soul
2004, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Expansion
Various
Togetherness
2003, CD, Comp, Togetherness (5), Expansion, Soul Brother Records (3)
Various
Soul Inspired
2002, 2x CD, ,
Soul/Neo Soul/Contemporary R&B
Various
Soul Sauce
1998, 4xCD, Comp, Expansion
Various
Modern Soul Rebels (40 Soul Gems From The 90's)
1998, 4xCD, Comp, Club Masters
Various
Expansion Soul Sauce Volume One
1992
Various
Capitol Classics Volume 3
1990
Various
Slow Dance Collection Vol : 4
1989, Cass, Comp, Capitol Records
Regina Belle
All By Myself
1987, Cass, Comp, Golden Lion Record
Various
R&B Love Ballads
1987, Cass, Comp, EMI
Various
Slow Jam 3
1987
Various
Capitol Collectables 1
1987, Vinyl, ,
RnB/Swing/Electro/Disco
Various
Star Search (The Winners Album)
1986
Various
Radio Mutuel Presente Disco Roule
1980, LP, Comp, Apex (3)
Kylie*
Rhythm Of Love
2024
Alice Cooper
Dirty Diamonds
2023, CD, ,
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Stephanie Mills
Merciless
2010
Stephanie Mills
Tantalizingly Hot
2009, CD, ,
Disco/Ballad/Soul
Bob Dylan
Down In The Groove
2005, CD,
Brian Setzer
The Knife Feels Like Justice
1999
Bob Dylan
Empire Burlesque
1998, CD, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock
Quincy Jones
Back On The Block
1998, CD, ,
Soul-Jazz/Contemporary R&B
Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan
1990, Cassette, ,
House/Pop Rock/Synth-pop
Tracy Chapman
Crossroads
1989, CD, ,
Folk Rock
Leonard Cohen
The Complete Studio Albums Collection
11x CD, Box Set, ,
Ballad/Folk Rock
Bob Dylan
Knocked Out Loaded