Singer, actress and television personality Jaye P. Morgan, whose entertainment career stretched from childhood vaudeville performances to hit records and decades of television appearances, has died at the age of 94.
Morgan’s family confirmed her death and said she had been living in Washington state with her nephew and niece, Duke Morgan Spencer and Peggy Sue Spencer. The family said there will be no public memorial service.
Born in Mancos, Colorado, in 1931, Morgan entered show business remarkably early. At just 3 years old, she began performing with her family’s vaudeville act, The Morgan Family, alongside her parents, five brothers and sister.
The family appeared in the 1935 film “Stars Over Broadway” before eventually settling in Los Angeles, where Morgan continued performing on radio and in theaters.
The family act came to an end following her father’s death in 1945.
While attending Verdugo Hills High School, Morgan earned the nickname “Jaye P.,” a play on the name of famed financier J.P. Morgan. The nickname ultimately became part of her professional identity.
After high school, Morgan began pursuing music professionally, first working with Hank Penny before becoming a vocalist with the Frank DeVol Orchestra.
Her career took off after she signed with RCA Victor.
Morgan scored several successful records during the 1950s, including “That’s All I Want From You,” which climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard chart. Another single, “The Longest Walk,” reached No. 6.
Her other recordings included “Danger! Heartbreak Ahead,” “If You Don’t Want My Love” and “Pepper-Hot Baby.”
Morgan’s growing popularity also opened the door to television.
She worked as a vocalist on ABC’s “Stop the Music” and became a regular presence on “The Robert Q. Lewis Show.”
In 1956, she received her own program, “The Jaye P. Morgan Show,” which also featured several of her brothers.
Morgan subsequently became a familiar face on some of television’s biggest variety programs, making appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Jackie Gleason Show” and “The Ford Show Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford.”
She later appeared regularly on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”
Morgan also expanded into acting, landing roles during the 1960s on television programs including “General Electric Theater,” “My Three Sons” and “The Eleventh Hour.”
Her career eventually introduced her to another generation of television viewers through her appearances on talk and variety programs, per Trending Politics.
Outside of her career, Morgan was married three times. She and musician Artie Kane adopted a son, Paul Kane.
Morgan is also survived by her nephew and niece, along with additional nieces, nephews and other relatives from her siblings.
Her death brings to a close an entertainment career that began when she was a toddler and eventually encompassed music, acting, variety television and talk shows across several decades.
