Peggy Dell
Encyclopedia
Margaret Tisdall better known by her stage name
Peggy Dell, was an Irish singer and pianist who became a popular music hall
entertainer.
Born in Dublin, Tisdall made her first public appearance as a pianist at the age of nine at the Olympia Theatre
, where her father played flute
with the pit orchestra
. Later, at the age of 13. she was employed by Woolworth's
to play at their store in Grafton Street in order to improve the sales of sheet music.
While still in her teens Tisdall formed her own band which played at various Dublin venues, such as the Theatre Royal and the Capitol Theatre
. In the 1930s, Tisdall toured England
with Roy Fox and his band, during which time she adopted the stage name, Peggy Dell.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orh0-urAFas Later, she performed in the USA as the lead singer with the Jack Hylton
band. Following the outbreak of World War II
she returned to Ireland and re-established herself as a popular musician and entertainer there. She played and sang at dances, performed in revue
s, and acted in pantomime
s.
By the end of the 1960s, due to the closure of several major Dublin theatres and the advent of television, Dell's career had gone into decline. Then, in 1973, Gay Byrne
asked her to take part in a special edition of The Late Late Show
in honour of actor Noel Purcell
. Viewer reaction was so positive that she was given her own TV series on RTÉ
called Peg O' My Heart. In February 1975, she won a Jacob's Award for the programme. From then until her death, Dell enjoyed renewed success as an entertainer, performing regularly on radio and television, as well as making live appearances. In 1975 she released an album entitled Among My Souvenirs.
Peggy Dell never married. She died in Dublin aged 74 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Peggy Dell, was an Irish singer and pianist who became a popular music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
entertainer.
Born in Dublin, Tisdall made her first public appearance as a pianist at the age of nine at the Olympia Theatre
Olympia Theatre, Dublin
The Olympia Theatre is a concert hall/theatre venue in Dublin, Ireland, located in Dame Street.-History:Built in 1879, it was originally called the "Star of Erin Music Hall". Two years later in 1881, it was renamed "Dan Lowrey's Music Hall" and was renamed again in 1889 to "Dan Lowrey's Palace of...
, where her father played flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
with the pit orchestra
Pit orchestra
A pit orchestra is a type of orchestra that accompanies performers in musicals, operas, and other shows involving music. In performances of operas and ballets, the pit orchestra is typically similar in size to a symphony orchestra, though it may contain smaller string and brass sections, depending...
. Later, at the age of 13. she was employed by Woolworth's
Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group plc was a listed British company that owned the high-street retail chain, Woolworths, as well as other brands such as the entertainment distributor Entertainment UK and book and resource distributor Bertram Books...
to play at their store in Grafton Street in order to improve the sales of sheet music.
While still in her teens Tisdall formed her own band which played at various Dublin venues, such as the Theatre Royal and the Capitol Theatre
Capitol Theatre (Dublin)
The Capitol Theatre, located just off O'Connell Street, Dublin, began life on August 10, 1920 as the La Scala Theatre and Opera House. Despite its name, the La Scala was a cinema. Paramount Pictures took over the lease on the building and renamed it the Capitol. Under new management, the Capitol...
. In the 1930s, Tisdall toured England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with Roy Fox and his band, during which time she adopted the stage name, Peggy Dell.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orh0-urAFas Later, she performed in the USA as the lead singer with the Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton was a British band leader and impresario.He was born John Greenhalgh Hilton in the Great Lever area of Bolton, Lancashire, the son of George Hilton, a cotton yarn twister. His father was an amateur singer at the local Labour Club and Jack learned piano to accompany him on the stage...
band. Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she returned to Ireland and re-established herself as a popular musician and entertainer there. She played and sang at dances, performed in revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
s, and acted in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
s.
By the end of the 1960s, due to the closure of several major Dublin theatres and the advent of television, Dell's career had gone into decline. Then, in 1973, Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
asked her to take part in a special edition of The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
in honour of actor Noel Purcell
Noel Purcell (actor)
Noel Purcell was an Irish film and television actor.-Career:Purcell began his show business career at the age of 12 in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. Later, he toured Ireland in a vaudeville act with Jimmy O'Dea....
. Viewer reaction was so positive that she was given her own TV series on RTÉ
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
called Peg O' My Heart. In February 1975, she won a Jacob's Award for the programme. From then until her death, Dell enjoyed renewed success as an entertainer, performing regularly on radio and television, as well as making live appearances. In 1975 she released an album entitled Among My Souvenirs.
Peggy Dell never married. She died in Dublin aged 74 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
.