Jane Morgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Morgan
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An August 1969 photo of Morgan, which was signed for television host Mike Douglas
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Florence Catherine Currier
May 3, 1924 Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | August 4, 2025 (aged 101) Naples, Florida, U.S.
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| Education | Juilliard School of Music |
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| Years active | 1943–2009 |
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| Children | 4 (1 step-son) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Traditional pop |
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Jane Morgan (born Florence Catherine Currier; May 3, 1924 – August 4, 2025) was a talented American singer and performer. She became famous for her traditional pop music. Jane first found success in France and the United Kingdom before becoming well-known in the United States. She earned six gold records, which means her music sold a lot! Jane often performed in nightclubs and on Broadway shows. She also appeared many times on American television as both a singer and an actress.
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About Jane Morgan
Early Life and Musical Start
Jane Morgan, whose real name was Florence Catherine Currier, was born on May 3, 1924, in Newton, Massachusetts. She grew up in a musical family with four brothers and sisters. Her parents, Olga and Bertram Currier, were both musicians. Jane started singing lessons at age five and also continued her piano lessons.
During summer breaks, she acted in plays at the Kennebunkport Playhouse in Kennebunkport, Maine. Her brother, Robert Currier, started this theater. After finishing Seabreeze High School, Jane was accepted into the famous Juilliard School of Music in New York. She wanted to become an opera singer, so she studied opera during the day and performed whenever she could to gain experience.
Becoming Famous in Europe
To help pay for her music school, Jane sang popular songs in nightclubs and at private parties. A band leader named Art Mooney suggested she change her name to Jane Morgan. He combined the first name of one singer with the last name of another.
In 1948, a French music promoter, Bernard Hilda, invited Jane to Paris. She quickly became very popular there! Many French songwriters wrote songs especially for her, which became big hits. Jane and Bernard even started their own weekly TV show. She began recording music in 1949 with French record labels like Polydor. In 1954, she went back to Europe to perform in London, including at famous places like the Savoy Theatre and London Palladium.
Success in America
When Jane returned to the United States, she started singing at the famous Latin Quarter nightclub in New York. There, she was discovered by Dave Kapp, who had just started a new record company called Kapp Records. Dave Kapp signed Jane to a recording contract.
To show that Jane was also an American singer, her first album was called The American Girl from Paris. She recorded many albums and soon sang with pianist Roger Williams. Their song, "Two Different Worlds", was played a lot on US radio. In 1957, Jane recorded the song "Fascination" with a group called The Troubadors. This song became a huge hit and stayed on the music charts for many weeks! In 1958, her song "The Day the Rains Came" became a number one hit in the United Kingdom in early 1959. Jane also appeared on a jazz TV special in November 1959.
Broadway and Later Career
Jane Morgan loved performing in musicals on stage, especially on Broadway. She starred in many famous shows like Can-Can, The King and I, Kiss Me, Kate, and Hello, Dolly.
In 1959, Jane got a new manager, Jerry Weintraub, who helped her get many important performances across the United States. Jane's marriage to Larry Stith ended in 1964. She then married Jerry Weintraub in 1965. They adopted three daughters together, and Jane also had a stepson named Michael from Jerry's first marriage. Jane and Jerry lived apart later in the 1980s, but they remained married until Jerry passed away in 2015. In 1960, Jane recorded the English version of an Italian song called Romantica.
Jane Morgan always dreamed of performing on Broadway, and she said it was one of the most exciting parts of her life. Her last two albums were with RCA Records. One of these, Jane Morgan in Nashville, had two country music hits. One song was her fun answer to Johnny Cash's famous song "A Boy Named Sue". Her song was called "A Girl Named Johnny Cash"! She even sang it on Johnny Cash's TV show in 1971.
Jane stopped performing regularly in 1973. However, she still made special appearances sometimes for important events. She also helped her husband, Jerry Weintraub, with his movie productions, like the film Ocean's Eleven. On December 10, 2009, Jane performed at a special UNICEF event honoring Jerry Weintraub. She sang two songs, "Ten Cents a Dance" and "Big Spender". Jane, also known as Jane Weintraub, spent her time in places like Malibu, California, Palm Springs, California, and Kennebunkport, Maine. She owned a farm in Kennebunkport, Maine, since 1958.
In February 2022, a collection of her unique performance gowns from the 1950s to the 1980s was shown for the first time at the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk, Maine. Jane Morgan celebrated her 100th birthday on May 3, 2024. She passed away at her home in Naples, Florida, on August 4, 2025, at the age of 101.
Notable Associates
Jane Morgan performed for many important people. She sang for French President Charles de Gaulle and for five U.S. Presidents: John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George W. Bush. She also toured with famous entertainers like Jack Benny and John Raitt. Jane even performed at the Grand Ole Opry, a very famous country music show. Two of her songs became hits on the country music charts in 1970.
TV Appearances and Recognition
Jane Morgan first appeared on U.S. television in 1951 on a show called Celebrity Time. She was on many popular TV shows, including The Jack Benny Program, The Mike Douglas Show, and more than fifty times on The Ed Sullivan Show!
Jane also appeared in special TV programs like Highways of Melody and The Bell Telephone Hour. She even had three of her own TV specials, including The Jane Morgan Hour. Jane also acted in TV dramas like Peter Gunn and It Takes a Thief. In 2021, her song "If Only I Could Live My Life Again" was heard in the TV show The Morning Show. On May 6, 2011, Jane Morgan received a special honor: her own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame!
Discography
Throughout her career, Jane Morgan recorded many popular songs and albums that delighted her fans.
See also
In Spanish: Jane Morgan para niños
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
