I'm Fascinated With Jane Morgan!!

The song "Fascination" is probably Jane Morgan's best known hit and, until recently, this was the only song by her in my music collection.  However, I came across a small collection of her music on a file sharing site. And, like most such discoveries, I was bowled over by this artist's outstanding vocal talent.  Why don't we hear more Jane Morgan songs on the radio?  I know modern stations don't touch this music genre anymore, but there are a few radio station gems that play music from this era, and still no playtime for this great artist. Since finding Jane Morgan, I have read her biography and been looking up her songs and performances on YouTube.  There is a large volume of her work to be found on YouTube, so there must be a lot more folks like me that appreciate Jane Morgan's talent.

What's even more "fascinating" is Jane Morgan's biography.  I can only say such a person has to be labelled  brilliant.  Born Florence Currier on May 3, 1924, in Newton, Massachusetts, Morgan was the daughter of Bertram Currier and Olga Brandenberg Currier, both of whom were dedicated and accomplished musicians. She was the youngest of five children.

She performed throughout her childhood, but gained fame by moving to Paris, France and working the nightclub scene.  Jane Morgan became a sensation in France and eventually Europe, wearing designer clothes, and belting out songs, while at the same time being a relatively unknown talent in the country of her birth.  In the 1950's she moved to Montreal, Canada to perform at the Ritz Carlton, performing both English and French songs.  She then moved to New York to again perform in nightclubs and even had her own NBC radio show.

Wanting to broaden her career, she left her agent and began singing at Lou Walter’s Latin Quarter in New York. Walters, father of television newswoman Barbara Walters, kept Morgan at the Latin Quarter for a year. There she was noticed by Dave Kapp, an entrepreneur, who had just begun a new recording label, Kapp Records. Kapp signed Morgan at the same time pianist Roger Williams was contracted.  Her first album release was entitled The American Girl from Paris.



She recorded several additional albums and soon was paired with Williams, who had gained national acceptance with his recording of "Autumn Leaves." They recorded "Two Different Worlds," and it was the first time Morgan received a large amount of airplay by American radio disc jockeys.

In 1957 Kapp signed a then unknown group of musicians called The Troubadors.  Jane Morgan was asked to join this group in performing the song "Fascination."  Although written in 1904 by Italian F. D. Marchetti and entitled "Valse Tzigane," it had been modified and used in Paris at the Follies Bergere as a "strip" number. With English lyrics added by Dick Manning in 1932, it had also been played throughout Love in the Afternoon. The French words were written by Maurice de Ferandy in 1942. In the fall of 1957, Morgan and The Troubadors’ rendition was released, and it became an instant sensation, remaining on the best selling charts for 29 weeks and selling millions of records. It marked for the first time Morgan’s acceptance as a top flight vocalist by the American public.

With new found fame Jane Morgan was eventually able to live her dream of performing on Broadway and she appeared in many well known musicals.  She also made several television appearances and performed in Las Vegas as well.  In 1960 she married her then manager Jerry Weintraub, who helped her gain access to some of the finest performance venues in the United States.  Her television appearances included The Ed Sullivan Show, The Andy Williams Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, and The Perry Como Show.

Morgan’s first American recordings were on the Kapp label in 1956, but other recordings were made on the Epic, London, ABC Colpix, Elektra, MCA, and RCA labels. Morgan recorded more than 30 albums. In addition, she appeared on the RCA soundtrack Marry Me! Marry Me! in 1969. She has worked with Burt Bacharach, Roger Williams, The Troubadors, Frank Hunter, Nick Perito, Marty Manning, Peter Matz, Chet Atkins, Maurice Chevalier, Michele Legrand and has recorded in five languages.

Her career covers nightclubs, recordings, radio, stage and screen.  She became fluent in several languages and was able to perform flawlessly using the various languages.  At age 90 I read that she was finally given a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame (see below).  Yes, Jane Morgan's life is "fascinating" and her recordings leave a lasting legacy. 



My current favorite Jane Morgan song is The Moon Was Yellow
from the Jane In Spain album, but I have to say I like all the tracks on this album, Granada  being another fave.

 


Here are some other artists who have recorded the song "The Moon Was Yellow."





I'm going to continue to research all Jane Morgan's music where I'm sure I will find and be picking up more of her gems.  I've included below a few of her performance videos from YouTube.  I'm always impressed by artists from this era.  Notice there is no bumping or grinding going on, but the power of the voice coming from this beautiful and beautifully dressed artist is spectacular.








Another big hit for Jane Morgan The Day The Rains Came