Cultivating Young Musical Minds Was George Peckham's Passion

From jazz vocalists Ernestine Anderson and Dee Daniels to Seattle tenor Steve Wall, George Peckham taught some of the best how to let go and sing easily with their souls, not their bodies.

Legions of children, rock musicians with screamed-out vocal cords and just plain music lovers came to study voice technique at Mr. Peckham's home studio in North Seattle. Friends remember Mr. Peckham as a warm personality whose philosophy of music was not about muscle control, but about cultivating a musical mind.

"The great thing about George is he doesn't just teach you to sing," a former student of his once said, "he teaches you a whole way of life."

Mr. Peckham died of a stroke early Thursday morning in his home. He was 90.

His daughter, Lucy Peckham, a sound designer based in Anchorage, Alaska, said her father had been "feeling really good until the end," and had given music lessons the day before he died.

It was his passion, she said, recalling that when she was growing up her father started teaching at 8:30 a.m. and took students until 10 p.m., with only a break for dinner. She estimated he taught 5,000 students during his 50-year career in Seattle.

Mr. Peckham was born in Athol, Mass., and made his entrance into Seattle in the 1930s when he landed a job as a singing waiter at a downtown nightclub called the Blue Danube. The pay was $2 a night. He went on to study music in San Francisco and at Cornish College of the Arts and later set up his studio in his home.

He met his late wife, Anita, during World War II when he was stationed in Texas and she was working for the Red Cross.

Mr. Peckham founded the local chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) union in Seattle in 1944. He was also a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists. At AFTRA's 50th anniversary this year, members honored Mr. Peckham by creating the George Peckham Communicator Award - to be given to a person who fosters good relations between artists and management.

"This guy has made a contribution like you wouldn't believe," said his friend, jazz saxophonist Bob McDowell of Lynnwood. "He was an entertainer's entertainer. He instinctively knew how to grab an audience. And he taught a lot of other people how to do the same thing."

McDowell added that at the AFTRA anniversary party, Mr. Peckham thrilled the room by belting out an aria in his lyric bass.

"He was just one of those souls that only comes along every hundred years," McDowell said.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Trinity Episcopal parish hall, 609 Eighth St. in Seattle.

Remembrances may be sent to the Seattle Opera or a charity of one's choice.