Peggy March: The Teenage Voice of 1960s Pop

Peggy March is an American pop singer who rose to international fame as a teenager in the 1960s. Hailing from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, she is best known for her 1963 chart-topper "I Will Follow Him," which made her the youngest female artist at the time to have a number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.

Early career

Born Margaret Annemarie Battavio in 1948, her musical talent was evident early. She began performing locally and was discovered by record producer and songwriter Hugo Peretti, who signed her to RCA Victor's subsidiary label, RCA Camden, while she was still in her early teens.

Breakthrough

Her breakthrough arrived spectacularly in 1963 with the release of "I Will Follow Him." The single, an English adaptation of the French song "Chariot," skyrocketed to number one on the Billboard charts, selling over a million copies and earning a gold record certification. This instant success cemented Peggy March's place in pop music history as a teenage sensation.

Key tracks

I Will Follow Him — This global smash defined her career, making her an international star at age fifteen.

Hello, Heartache, Goodbye, Love — A successful follow-up single that capitalized on her early momentum.

Wenn der Sommer Kommt — This German-language hit marked her successful pivot to the European Schlager market in the late 1960s.

Lady Music — A notable later career track that showcased her enduring vocal style into the 1970s.

Following her initial fame, Peggy March continued to record for RCA and later for other labels, releasing albums like "Margaret Ann Battavio" and "Peggy March." She found sustained success, particularly in Europe and Japan, where she became a major star in the Schlager genre, recording numerous albums and singles in German. Her career evolved from teen pop to a more mature adult contemporary and Schlager sound, allowing her to maintain a strong fanbase overseas for decades.

Artists with a similar trajectory in teen pop and enduring international appeal include Lesley Gore, another powerful teenage voice from the same era who scored major pop hits. Connie Francis shared a similar path of massive early success and a long-lasting career with a strong international following. The pop sensibility of Brenda Lee also aligns, as she was another young artist who achieved significant chart success in the early 1960s.

Peggy March's classic pop hits remain a staple on oldies and classic hits FM stations, as well as on dedicated online radio streams that celebrate the golden age of 1960s music. Her signature song is a frequent feature on playlists that highlight formative moments in pop history.

You can hear the timeless pop music of Peggy March on various radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover her classic tracks and later work through the vintage pop and classic hits stations available on onairium.com.