Pop and TV star Jaye P. Morgan dead at 94…
Jaye P. Morgan, one of the top feminine recording artists of the Fifties with 5 hits in 1955 alone, including “That’s All I Want From You,” and who later turned a frequent speak show visitor and recreation show panelist, infamously taking off her shirt on “The Gong Show,” has died. She was 94.
Morgan died Monday of natural causes in Longview, Washington, said Mark Sendroff, longtime attorney and pal. She had been dwelling with her nephew and niece, Duke Morgan Spencer and Peggy Sue Spencer.
Morgan’s Top 10 hits had been “That’s All I Want From You” and “The Longest Walk.” Her Top 20 hits had been “Danger! Heartbreak Ahead,” “If You Don’t Want My Love” and “Pepper-Hot Baby.” She also had two Top 20 hits with Perry Como, “Chee Chee-Oo Chee (Sang the Little Bird)” and “Two Lost Souls,” and a hit with Eddy Arnold called “Mutual Admiration Society” that reached No. 47 on the Billboard singles chart.
From left, Jaye P. Morgan, Pat McCormick, Chuck Barris and Pearl Bailey seem on “The Gong Show” during its 1976-1980 run. ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Later she would turn out to be a common visitor on “The Tonight Show” and make appearances with Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett and Mike Douglas as properly as spots on “Love Boat” and “Fantasy Island.” But it was her years hamming it up as a movie star decide — along with Jamie Farr and Rip Taylor — on the chaotic “The Gong Show” beginning in 1976 that cemented her fame.
On the show, novice performers tried out their acts, and when one of the judges couldn’t stand it anymore, they smashed a gong, ending the proceedings. Whichever performer gained the day’s show acquired a examine for the random quantity of $516.32.
On one episode, Eugene Patton — the dancing stagehand performing as Gene Gene the Dancing Machine — began his factor when Morgan opened her shirt to expose her breasts, serving to convey an end to the show’s run on NBC in 1978.
“It paid good money, and it was great exposure. I really enjoyed it,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 1992.
“Jaye P. Morgan’s devil-may-care ad libs on television game shows have probably made her more famous as a personality than as a singer,” The New York Times wrote in 1984. “But the same kooky recklessness that inspires Miss Morgan’s remarks is also a part of her musical sensibility.”
Her movie credit embody “The All-American Boy” with Jon Voight, “Loose Shoes,” “The Gong Show Movie,” “Night Patrol” and the 2002 Miramax release “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” directed by George Clooney.
Jaye P. Morgan’s early life
Kermit the Frog, left, and Jaye P. Morgan seem on “The Muppet Show” in an episode that aired Nov. 29, 1977. Courtesy Everett Collection
Morgan was born Mary Margaret Morgan in a log cabin in Mancos, Colorado, and her show business profession began early. At the age of 3, she was half of the Morgan Family, a touring vaudeville act that included her mom, her father, her sister and 5 brothers. The group disbanded after their father’s death in 1945.
Morgan was class treasurer of her California high faculty and her friends nicknamed her J.P. after the nineteenth century financier J.P. Morgan. She later feminized it by altering the initial J to Jaye.
But by the time she was 17, she was singing professionally again, and in 1950 she joined Frank De Vol’s orchestra, singing with it for three years.
Her recording profession acquired underway via “Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries” and “Just a Gigolo” with De Vol on a small label, Derby Records, that reached No. 26 on the Billboard chart. That led RCA Records to come calling with a recording contract.
She was a common on the Robert Q. Lewis national daytime selection TV show and the nighttime recreation show “Stop the Music” hosted by Bert Parks. In 1954, DownBeat magazine’s annual DJ ballot topped her best new feminine singer of the 12 months. She took her nightclub act on the street and made her Las Vegas debut at the New Frontier Hotel & Casino.
Morgan’s onscreen profession
Musical visitor Jaye P. Morgan performs on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” on Nov. 17, 1970. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Morgan even acquired her own TV show in 1956 — “The Jaye P. Morgan Show,” which featured 4 of her brothers. Her solo albums embody “Jaye P. Morgan” — produced by Davis Foster — “Jay P. Morgan Lately!” and a joint album with Kaye Ballard called “Long Time Friends.”
An look on “The Tonight Show” opened up a profession for her on tv speak reveals and she saved returning to Johnny Carson for 5 years. “I take my body everyplace I go,” she joked to the host in a 1972 episode. She also was a visitor on “The Odd Couple” taking part in herself and singing their goofy track “Happy, Peppy and Bursting with Love.”
(*94*) one memorable episode of “The Muppet Show,” Morgan appeared in a fowl costume and appeared sad she was there at all. When Kermit tells her it’s a thrill to have her on, she replies: “I’m really indifferent about being here.” Kermit is aghast, calling the opening quantity cute. “I hate cute,” replies Morgan.
Other Morgan credit embody a position in “Home Alone 2,” with Macaulay Culkin, appearances on “Love Boat” and “Fantasy Island,” and co-starring with Eddie Bracken in the national tour of “Sugar Babies.”
Married and divorced 3 times, Morgan is survived by a son, Paul Kane.
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