Marian Montgomery, 67; Jazz Singer on BBC in 1960s, ‘70s

Marian Montgomery, 67, the Mississippi-born jazz singer best known for her work on the BBC in the 1960s and ‘70s, died of cancer Monday at her home in London.

She was born Maud Runnels in Natchez, Miss., and made her professional debut on Atlanta television.

Montgomery sang under the name Pepi Runnels at clubs in Chicago before signing a contract with Capitol Records in 1963.

She worked as a cabaret singer in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York before moving to London in the mid-1960s.

In Britain, Montgomery starred in the West End production of “Anything Goes” in 1969 and recorded a one-woman show for the BBC in 1975.

She became well-known to BBC audiences as a resident singer on the talk show “Parkinson” through the 1970s, and was praised for her smooth voice and intimate, relaxed singing style.