Pop and TV star Jaye P. Morgan dead at 94…
Jaye P. Morgan, one in all 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 grew to become a frequent discuss present visitor and game present panelist, infamously taking off her shirt on “The Gong Show,” has died. She was 94.
Morgan died (*94*) of pure causes in Longview, Washington, said Mark Sendroff, longtime legal professional and buddy. She had been dwelling along 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 success 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 an everyday visitor on “The Tonight Show” and make appearances with Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett and Mike Douglas in addition to spots on “Love Boat” and “Fantasy Island.” But it was her years hamming it up as a celeb choose — together with Jamie Farr and Rip Taylor — on the chaotic “The Gong Show” beginning in 1976 that cemented her fame.
On the present, novice performers tried out their acts, and when one in all the judges couldn’t stand it anymore, they smashed a gong, ending the proceedings. Whichever performer received the day’s present acquired a test 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 reveal her breasts, serving to carry an end to the present’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 embrace “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 present enterprise profession began early. At the age of three, she was a part 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 loss of life 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 preliminary 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 3 years.
Her recording profession received underway by way of “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 return calling with a recording contract.
She was an everyday on the Robert Q. Lewis national daytime selection TV present and the nighttime game present “Stop the Music” hosted by Bert Parks. In 1954, DownBeat journal’s annual DJ ballot topped her best new feminine singer of the 12 months. She took her nightclub act on the highway 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 by way of Getty Images
Morgan even received her personal TV present in 1956 — “The Jaye P. Morgan Show,” which featured 4 of her brothers. Her solo albums embrace “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 discuss 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” playing herself and singing their goofy music “Happy, Peppy and Bursting with Love.”
During 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 embrace a job 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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