Singer and television star Jaye P. Morgan died on Monday, August 24, at the age of 94. Her longtime attorney and friend Mark Sendroff confirmed the news, noting that she had been living with her nephew and niece, Duke Morgan Spencer and Peggy Sue Spencer, at the time of her death. Duke later confirmed to The New York Times that she died at a hospital in Longview, Washington, due to complications from a fall.
Career as a 1950s recording artist
Jaye, whose real name was Mary Margaret Morgan, served as class treasurer in high school, which led to her being nicknamed Jaye P. after the banker J. P. Morgan. She became one of the top female recording artists of the 1950s with five hits in 1955 alone. Her best-known songs include That’s All I Want From You, The Longest Walk, and Danger! Heartbreak Ahead.
She also enjoyed two Top 20 hits with Perry Como, Chee Chee-Oo Chee (Sang the Little Bird) and Two Lost Souls. Adding to her portfolio, she had a hit with Eddy Arnold called Mutual Admiration Society, which reached No. 47 on the Billboard singles chart.
Move to television and film roles
She later turned her hand to TV, becoming a regular guest on The Tonight Show and making appearances with popular hosts Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett and Mike Douglas. She also guest-starred on popular TV dramas such as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.
Additionally, Jaye guest-starred on The Muppet Show in 1978 and later had small roles in Night Patrol and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
The Gong Show and the 1978 incident
While she gained notoriety in the early days of her career, it would be her years hamming it up as a celebrity judge alongside the likes of Jamie Farr and Rip Taylor on The Gong Show that cemented her fame. She first began appearing on the programme in 1976. The talent and variety show saw amateur performers showcase their acts, but when one of the judges couldn’t stand it anymore, they smashed a gong to end the performance.
During a 1978 episode, Eugene Patton - the dancing stagehand performing as Gene Gene the Dancing Machine - started his act when Jaye opened her shirt to expose her breasts live on camera. NBC subsequently banned her from the programme. The show itself would be canned just months later.
"It paid good money, and it was great exposure. I really enjoyed it," she unironically told the Los Angeles Times in 1992.
Later years and legacy
In 2003, she appeared as herself in George Clooney's directorial debut, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which was a semi-biographical film about the life of Chuck Barris, creator of The Gong Show, The Dating Game, and The Newlywed Game.
Jaye was predeceased by her son, Paul Kane, who died in 2020.
