# Peters and Lee
**Peters and Lee** were a British vocal duo comprising the blind singer-pianist [Lennie Peters](https://www.edgepedia.org/lennie-peters) and the singer-dancer Dianne Lee, active from 1970 and best known for the 1973 number-one single "Welcome Home" and the album *We Can Make It*, which together made them the second act after the Beatles to top the UK singles and albums charts simultaneously, after [Rod Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/rod-stewart) achieved the feat in 1971 with "Maggie May" and *Every Picture Tells a Story*.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [8](https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/every-artist-who-has-scored-the-official-uk-chart-double__26932/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Members | Lennie Peters (born Leonard Sergeant in London; death year sometimes given as 1933 and 1939; died 10 October 1992) and Dianne Lee, born Dianne Littlehales (b. 1950)[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [3](https://musicbase.net/peters-lee) |
| Active years | Formed 1970; disbanded 1980; reunited in 1986 and recorded again in 1989 and 1992[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) |
| Signature hit | "Welcome Home" (Philips 6006307): first charted 26 May 1973, peaked at number 1 on 21 July 1973, 24 weeks on the UK chart[4](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/peters-and-lee-welcome-home/) |
| Chart first | "Welcome Home" and the album *We Can Make It* simultaneously at number one, the first such double since Rod Stewart[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) • [8](https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/every-artist-who-has-scored-the-official-uk-chart-double__26932/) |
| Sales recognition | Philips awarded the duo a Platinum Album for two and a half million sales; four British top 20 hits and four top 10 albums[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) |
| Record label | Philips Records, contracted in 1973 after television success[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) |
| Breakthrough TV | Won Hughie Green's *Opportunity Knocks* in 1973 after six weeks of appearances, with a record number of votes[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) |
## The two members
Lennie Peters was born in London, one of six sons of a local fishmonger. He lost his sight in both eyes: sources agree he was blinded at 16, and one account describes two separate childhood accidents, first losing the left eye in a traffic accident at age 5 and the other eye from a thrown brick at 16.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676561/bio/) He had aspired to be a prize-fighter before the blindness, and taught himself piano on a secondhand upright bought by his parents, then sang and played in pubs around [Islington](https://www.edgepedia.org/islington) in north London.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) During the 1960s he recorded solo singles, including "Let the Tears Begin" and "And My Heart Cried" on the Oriole label.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html)
Dianne Lee, born Dianne Littlehales, came to London in 1968 for television and stage work. She had been a dancer with her cousin in an act called the Hailey Twins, and met Peters while they shared a bill.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html)
## Formation and name
The partnership began in 1970. Lee first sang backing vocals for Peters's solo act, and the duo's debut appearance came on the [Rolf Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/rolf-harris) show at Bournemouth Winter Gardens on 30 April 1970. They built a following through club and holiday camp performances.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) They first called themselves Lennie Peters and Melody, but management judged that the name made them sound like a reggae act, so the pairing was renamed Peters and Lee.[6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1975/Music-Week-1975-11-15.pdf)
## Breakthrough in 1973
**Television triumph.** In early 1973 the duo appeared for six weeks on [Hughie Green](https://www.edgepedia.org/hughie-green)'s *Opportunity Knocks* and won with a record number of votes; another account describes winning the show seven weeks in a row at the start of 1973. The exposure led to a contract with Philips Records.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) • [3](https://musicbase.net/peters-lee) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591)
Their debut single "Welcome Home", a country-flavored sing-along pop song, entered the UK singles chart on 26 May 1973 at number 46, climbed steadily, and reached number 1 on 21 July 1973, spending 24 weeks on the chart in total. Its run came between chart-toppers by Slade and [Gary Glitter](https://www.edgepedia.org/gary-glitter), in a period dominated by glam rock.[4](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/peters-and-lee-welcome-home/) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) The accompanying album *We Can Make It* held the number-one spot at the same time, making Peters and Lee the first act to achieve the simultaneous chart double since Rod Stewart.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) • [8](https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/every-artist-who-has-scored-the-official-uk-chart-double__26932/)
## Career after the breakthrough
**Hits and recordings.** The duo followed with "By Your Side" (number 39, 1973), "Don't Stay Away Too Long" (number 3, 1974), "Rainbow" (number 17, 1974), and "Hey Mr Music Man" (number 16, 1976).[7](https://www.fchd.info/temp/VBHS3.pdf) Their repertoire mixed current folk and pop material, including [David Gates](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-gates)'s "If" and [Buffy Sainte-Marie](https://www.edgepedia.org/buffy-sainte-marie)'s "Until It's Time for You to Go", with older standards.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) In 1975 their popularity extended to the United States and they traveled to Los Angeles to record with producer Jimmy Bowen.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) By that point they had sold enough records for Philips to grant them a Platinum Album for two and a half million sales, and their *Favourites* album was launched with a £150,000 television advertising campaign.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) • [6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1975/Music-Week-1975-11-15.pdf)
**Later years.** The duo disbanded in 1980 but reunited six years later, making much of their living performing at holiday camps; they recorded further albums including *Peters and Lee* on the President label in 1989 and a final album released in 1992 to mark 21 years since their formation.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html)
## End of the partnership
In 1992 Peters revealed that he was suffering from cancer, and he died in London on 10 October 1992; the obituary notice in *The Independent* records the year of birth as 1933, while AllMusic, IMDb, and musicbase give 1939, a discrepancy that the available records do not resolve.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676561/bio/) • [3](https://musicbase.net/peters-lee) After his death, Dianne Lee resumed her career as an actress.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591)
"Welcome Home" returned to public attention in 1999 when it was used in British television advertisements for Walker's Crisps.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591)
## References
1. [Obituary: Lennie Peters, The Independent (12 October 1992)](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-lennie-peters-1557150.html)
2. [Peters & Lee Biography by Bruce Eder, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000720591)
3. [Peters & Lee – bands, collaborators & records, musicbase](https://musicbase.net/peters-lee)
4. [WELCOME HOME – PETERS AND LEE, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/peters-and-lee-welcome-home/)
5. [Lennie Peters – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676561/bio/)
6. ["Peters and Lee set for the U.S.", Music Week, 15 November 1975](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1975/Music-Week-1975-11-15.pdf)
7. [UK singles chart entries for Peters & Lee, chart archive](https://www.fchd.info/temp/VBHS3.pdf)
8. [Every artist who has scored the Official UK Chart double](https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/every-artist-who-has-scored-the-official-uk-chart-double__26932/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Ensembles and groups › Choirs and vocal groups › Gospel, barbershop, and popular vocal groups › Vocal duos, trios, and small vocal ensembles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license