From Teenage Sensation to Global Icon
With a catchy melody, simple lyrics, and an unforgettable chorus, “I Will Follow Him” had all the ingredients of a timeless pop hit. Released in early 1963, the single—powered by 14-year-old Peggy March’s surprisingly mature vocals—rocketed up the Billboard Hot 100 in just three months, making her the youngest female artist ever to hit No. 1.
“Many people don’t realize I was only 14 when I recorded it—and 15 when it hit No. 1!”
Since then, March has performed the song thousands of times. Today, it’s still a fan favorite, especially in Europe, where she has built a loyal following.
“I was in school when I signed with RCA,” she recalled during a Zoom interview from Marburg, Germany, where she still spends several weeks each year when not at home in Florida. “They sent me all over the world to promote the record, and it just exploded in Germany. The country basically adopted me—and I’ve been part of the German music industry ever since.”
The Hit That Almost Wasn’t
Although it’s now iconic, “I Will Follow Him” didn’t grab March right away.
“When I walked into my producers’ office, they played it and said, ‘Peggy, this is your next hit,’” she said. “My sister vividly remembers that I didn’t like the song because it was too repetitive. But I was clearly wrong. We all know now—it’s a great hook!”
“When I walked into my producers’ office, they played it and said, ‘Peggy, this is your next hit,’” she recalled. “My sister vividly remembers that I didn’t like the song because it was too repetitive. But I was clearly wrong. We all know now that it’s got a great hook!”
She’s not sure when she first performed the song publicly but suspects it may have been at a high school record hop—common events at the time where teen singers would promote new singles.
A career that kept moving
Despite her breakout hit, the road ahead wasn’t always smooth.
“I was very young when I started—14 when I recorded the song and 15 by the time it went to No. 1,” she said. “By my early 20s, I was tired of being on the road and really didn’t think I wanted to do this anymore. But I got over it.”
She followed up “I Will Follow Him” with other charting singles like “Hello Heartache, Goodbye Love,” though none matched the colossal success of her debut song. Still, her career endured—and so did the song.
“Today, at 76, Peggy March continues to perform for enthusiastic audiences worldwide.”
Celebrating 50 years with a stronger voice
In 2013—50 years after the song’s release—March recorded an anniversary version of “I Will Follow Him” in Holland. Her voice, still rich and expressive, gave the tune a renewed vibrancy.
“We updated the original to make it a little more interesting, but we didn’t want to change too much,” she said. “It was one of the shortest songs I’ve ever recorded, around two and a half minutes, so we made the new version a bit longer. Instrumentally, it’s pretty much the same—except for a key change—but I really like it.”
Portions of this interview originally appeared in Florida Currents magazine in 2022.
From classic Hollywood to music legends and hiking adventures for the 50+ crowd—read more stories by Nick Thomas.
