Popular 1960s Singer Passed Away At Age 101
Jane Morgan, the celebrated singer whose mellifluous voice became synonymous with both European cabaret and classic American pop, has passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 101 in Naples, Florida .
Born Florence Catherine Currier on May 3, 1924, in Newton, Massachusetts, Morgan was the youngest of five children in a musical family. She first showcased her talent onstage at just 11 years old, performing at Maine’s Kennebunkport Playhouse.
From Juilliard to Paris Stardom
A gifted opera student at Juilliard, she adopted the stage name Jane Morgan—an inventive moniker bestowed by orchestra leader Art Mooney—and began her professional journey in New York nightclubs. Her destiny shifted in 1948 when French bandleader Bernard Hilda invited her to Paris, where she quickly became a sensation on the city’s vibrant music scene .
A Voice That Crossed Borders
Morgan’s big break in the U.S. arrived with her 1956 debut album, The American Girl From Paris. The following year, her rendition of “Fascination” soared to No. 7 on the Billboard charts and featured prominently in the film Love in the Afternoon. Other memorable hits included “The Day the Rains Came,” “With Open Arms,” “To Love and Be Loved,” and “Blue Hawaii” .
A Stage and TV Fixture
Morgan’s talents extended beyond the recording studio. She graced Broadway in classics like Mame, Ziegfeld Follies of 1957, Can-Can, The King and I, Kiss Me Kate, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She became a staple on American television, appearing an impressive 50 times on The Ed Sullivan Show and even performing at the Oscars twice.
Honors and Presidential Performances
Morgan performed for global dignitaries, including France’s Charles de Gaulle and five U.S. Presidents: John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush. In 2011, she received a well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where she delighted audiences with a heartfelt rendition of “Fascination”
A Life Shared with Hollywood Producer
In 1965, Morgan married her manager, Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub. The couple adopted three daughters and both had children from Weintraub’s earlier marriage. Although they separated in the 1980s, they never legally divorced. Weintraub predeceased her, passing away in 2015.
A Legacy That Echoes On
Morgan largely stepped away from performing in the early 1970s but continued making rare but cherished appearances at special events and benefits . She marked her 100th birthday in May 2024 with warmth and grace, recalling concealing the secret to her longevity: “Wearing 30‑pound dresses and four‑inch heels kept me alive,” she joked in an interview Press Herald.
Jane Morgan’s extraordinary career—from Paris cabarets to Broadway marquee lights, Hollywood recording studios to presidential events—reflects a remarkable era of entertainment that spanned decades. Her smooth vocals, graceful stage presence, and enduring charm made her a true icon of mid‑20th‑century American music and theatre.