We recently connected with Peggy Lohr and have shared our conversation below.

Peggy, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I had a dream of being a professional singer from the time I was 6 years old and sang for my first audience! I loved singing so much that I always felt that absolutely nothing could stop me from pursuing that path. I gained experience along the way in high school and college choirs and met musicians. As college was ending for me, I began to get hired for gigs through these musicians I’d met. After that, I learned how to pursue and book my own gigs with my own band. Because I learned to do so many different kinds of music and because I never met a stranger…and because of my tenacity… I have been able to work as a singer for 50 years now. I was always able to pay my important bills as a full time working singer, but I was only able to buy a home initially because I married a successful musician and our combined salaries helped us reach that milestone. Plus I do believe that talent plus tenacity plus luck allowed me to have this long career. So many great things happened because I was at the right place at the right time…and I was ready for that break to happen! We don’t “live large” though. We drive used cars, don’t travel much, stay on a tight budget…and in the early years, took any and all kinds of gigs offered.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

While I was in college, I met a pianist who was a friend of my roommate’s. He introduced me to other players when we all went on a college sponsored tour of Romania called “Ambassadors of Friendship “. When we returned to the states, these musicians started booking gigs in Austin,Texas(1972) and started hiring me to work with them. Some of them were also involved in studio work doing radio and TV commercials. They took a chance on me and hired me for that part of the music business, too which allowed me to qualify for membership in Sag-Aftra as I did regional commercials. What really kept my career going was that I was able to sing for different kinds of gigs from jazz to country to cabaret to pop. I could already read music for session work. I’ve always been outgoing…never shy… so I had no problem promoting myself and booking my own gigs. I was lucky to always befriend great musicians who wrote my music charts and owned sound systems. What set me apart from others was my talent and the talent of the musicians I hired, as well as the fact that I pride myself in getting along with others. I had gigs that lasted for years( like The Hyatt in DFW when it opened its Top of the Dome in 1978. My band was up there for 2 years.) My friendliness and tenacity helped me meet connections on that gig that eventually got me my first gig in Los Angeles in 1981. A gig at The Money Tree there led me into a friendship with the music contractor of Warner Brothers…which led me into a professional relationship as the demo singer for Marilyn and Alan Bergman ( famous lyricists of The Way We Were and other songs)…which led me into getting hired to sing for the Oscar’s Governors Ball for many years. My association with the Bergmans and other famous film composers( Dave Grusin, Johnny Mandel, Lalo Shiffrin, Michel LeGrand) were my proudest moments in my long career! Occasionally, along the way, there would be “dry” periods between gigs. But I still had bills to pay, so pride never got in the way. At one point I created a Dolly Parton routine for a singing telegram service in L. A. It was fun, but luckily I did not have to do that for long! I also created a musical theatre class for kids when we moved to Branson in the mid 1990s. I’ve always been thankful that I can create new ideas to keep myself working. I love writing original material and parodies!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was really lucky to be able to only work as a singer for at least the first 10 years of my singing career, but I also owe that to my ability to meet lots of people and keep seeking out work. But in doing that I had to be prepared to perform all kinds of songs to have many different kinds of gigs…from shows to dance gigs to jazz gigs to cabaret to studio work. When I first moved to L. A. I did work for a singing telegram service and I also learned to do backer auditions and industrial shows. The point here is that full time working singers fair better by knowing how to do lots of different kinds of gigs! After I had children, my nighttime career became a problem. My husband is also a musician. When our sons became school aged, we moved to Branson. That’s when I started using my college degree ( for the first time) and began teaching so that I could be on our sons’ schedule. First, I created a musical theater class for kids and put on productions. Eventually, I became a full time elementary school teacher ( at age 50!) and continued to do singing gigs on the weekends!… as well as being a wife and mother! I have pivoted a lot!! I’m very proud of my resilience and my creativity in keeping this ball rolling all these many years!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I have always loved what I do and been thankful for every second I get to do it! It has never seemed like a choice. Singing is my passion. And especially when I get to sing with my husband playing his gorgeous piano arrangements….well that’s just heaven on earth. My goal has always been to be able to pay my bills while doing what I love…even if that means giving up luxuries like new cars or vacations. Right now I’ve added “author” to my many achievements. I’m very busy promoting my new memoir, Howdy Hollywood. I’ve even created a song show that goes with my book review! See? I’m still creating new material and new ways to keep performing!

Contact Info:

• Website: Lohrmusic.com
• Instagram: Peggy Lohr
• Facebook: Bill and Peggy Lauren Lohr Music
• Linkedin: Peggy Lohr
• Twitter: Lullabywhisprer
• Youtube: Bill Lohr YouTube Channel
• Other: Howdy, Hollywood!: Music, Movie Stars, and Mischief From Texas to Tinseltown https://a.co/d/8F9iWBy