As one of the most successful and prolific pop vocalists of the twentieth century, Margaret Whiting conquered all facets of show business as a recording artist and star of radio, stage, television, and film. Widely recognized as a premiere interpreter of the Great American Songbook, Whiting’s familial roots only reinforced her contributions to popular song. As the daughter of Richard Whiting, whose compositions include "Hooray for Hollywood," "Ain't We Got Fun," and "Too Marvelous for Words," she grew up among the composers and lyricists, most significantly Johnny Mercer, whose work she would later popularize. Whiting devoted her life to keeping the Great American Songbook in the public ear, preserving the legacy of Mercer, mentoring up-and-coming singers, and supporting the cabaret world throughout the United States.

Her many hit records including "Moonlight In Vermont," "It Might As Well Be Spring," and "Baby, It’s Cold Outside," established her as a top-selling vocalist. Acclaimed for her vocal clarity, the New York Time’s Stephen Holden noted, “Her voice is steady and warm, her enunciation pristine, her respect for the song absolute, her emotional stance a serene balance of wistfulness and resilience.”

The Paley Center joins her friends and admirers, and her daughter Debbi, in saluting Whiting’s enduring musical legacy presented on television in an evening filled with lively reminiscences and rare and classic clips from the Paley Center’s archive.

This is the first event in our new series, The Great American Songbook on Television, celebrating the enduring legacy of the composers, lyricists, and classic and current performers of American standards as presented on television and preserved in the Paley Center’s collection.

Tickets on sale to Members now.
On sale to General Public: March 30