Jaye P. Morgan, a prominent female recording artist of the 1950s who later became known for her candid television persona, died Monday of natural causes in Longview, Washington. She was 94.
Morgan had a string of hits in the 1950s, including five Top 10 songs in 1955 alone, such as “That’s All I Want From You” and “The Longest Walk.” She also recorded popular duets with Perry Como and Eddy Arnold.
Her early life began in Mancos, Colorado, where she was born Mary Margaret Morgan. Her entertainment career started at age 3 as part of a traveling vaudeville act with her family. After her father's death in 1945, she continued in show business, singing professionally and joining Frank De Vol's orchestra. Her recording career began with Derby Records before signing with RCA Records.
Morgan also made a significant impact on television. She was a frequent guest on talk shows hosted by Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, and Mike Douglas. In 1956, she hosted her own show, “The Jaye P. Morgan Show.”
However, she became particularly infamous for her role as a celebrity judge on the television program “The Gong Show,” which aired from 1976 to 1980. On the show, judges would strike a gong to end a performer's act if they found it unsatisfactory. Morgan's uninhibited style, including a notable incident where she exposed her breasts on air, contributed to the show's chaotic reputation.
"It paid good money, and it was great exposure. I really enjoyed it,” Morgan said in a 1992 interview with the Los Angeles Times. A 1984 New York Times article noted her "devil-may-care ad libs" on game shows, stating that this personality made her more famous than her singing.
Morgan's acting credits included roles in films such as “The All-American Boy,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” and appearances on television shows like “The Love Boat” and “Fantasy Island.” She also appeared on "The Muppet Show."
She was married and divorced three times and is survived by a son, Paul Kane.