"Fever" is a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell. It was originally recorded by American R&B singer Little Willie John for his debut album, Fever 1956. The song topped the Billboard R&B Best Sellers in the US and peaked at No.24 on the Billboard pop chart. It was received positively by music critics and included on several lists of the best songs when it was released.
"Fever" has been covered by several artists from diverse genres. Peggy Lee's 1958 rendition became the best known version and her signature song. Lee's version contained rewritten lyrics and an altered music arrangement. It was a top 5 hit in the UK and Australia in addition to making the top 10 in the US. "Fever" was nominated in three categories at the 1st Annual Grammy Awards in 1959, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.