Page 3 - NBY December 2020 Issue

Senior in Action:
Senior in Action: Barbara Morrison “Warm & Cozy”
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
“Warm & Cozy”
“Warm & Cozy”
Barbara Morrison “Warm & Cozy”“Warm & Cozy”
Barbara Morrison
Barbara Morrison
Barbara Morrison
Senior in Action – Barbara Morrison as performed in Dunfermline, Scotland at toes were numb and turning black. A
told to Marilee Marrero Stefenhagen the original Carnegie Hall with an 18- severe infection caused the loss of my
“Do you know what is the most serious piece band. Those experiences inspired second limb. When I turned 71, I was fitted
disease in the world? LONELINESS. me to build a performance hall and I with a prosthesis. Now I can drive again.
When there’s no chance to interact, it established a nonprofit foundation to I am off insulin. I walk every day and
makes you feel useless. I am 71 years accomplish my vision.” keep weekly doctor appointments. Ella
young. People my age just want to be “I founded The Barbara Morrison Fitzgerald, Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Shirley
noticed. I think it’s great that Not Born Performing Arts Center, and am President Horn, Laverne Baker, and Clark Kelly,
Yesterday features “Seniors in Action” to of the California Jazz & Blues Museum. At the famous trumpet player, were all
motivate people not to be couch potatoes. I the Performing Arts Center, we have a double amputees and look at all they
just read an article, “Why Some People school that has served 3500 kids across accomplished in their lives! Ella
Don’t Want to be Hugged.” As we get Los Angeles who can’t afford to get improvised after a fall on stage by
older, we can’t drive, can’t drink this, can’t performing arts instruction. We teach singing, “If I fell for you.” I still love
eat that… too many CAN’Ts. We need to them how to play instruments. I bought singing. I will be performing in a virtual
focus on what we CAN do. Think positive. streaming equipment so we can still livestream concert on December 5, worlds, including Dizzy Gillespie, Ray
Be kind. When I am traveling and can’t create Jazz and Blues music during the courtesy of The Wallis Annenburg Center Charles, Etta James, Johnny Otis, Nancy
speak the language, my smile pandemic. Artists can put their donation for the Performing Arts.” Wilson, Mel Tormé, Joe Williams, Tony
communicates whatever I need. Your button on screen and continue to make In 2021 Morrison’s Blue Lady Records Bennett and Keb’ Mo. In addition, Morrison
facial expression will let people see your money despite being unable to do live will release her latest album, ”Warm and has guest starred with the Count Basie
art.” concerts. The 3rd Annual California Jazz Cozy.” To learn more about Barbara Orchestra, the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra
“My parents met when Dad heard my & Blues Museum Hall of Fame Induction Morrison please and Louie Bellson Band, among others.
mother singing in a nightclub. But he was Ceremony and Concert, recently held on visit www.barbaramorrison.com TICKET PRICES AND INFORMATION:
sent to the Korean conflict. When he was September 16, 2020 at The Barbara Network with Barbara Morrison on $25.00 for each on demand single show
discharged, he found my mom and me. Morrison Performing Arts Center, was a her Facebook page for The Barbara per household for viewing on Smart TV,
Dad worked for General Motors, and Mom virtual fundraiser for our new up and Morrison Performing Arts Center at: computer, smartphone or tablet
was a nurse. I am the oldest of six siblings. coming 21,000 square-foot facility, https://www.facebook.com/ On Demand purchase includes a 24-hour
I babysat my siblings and taught all of the California Jazz & Blues Museum and barbaramorrisonpac/@bmorrblues window of access from 8:00 PM the evening of
them the alphabet. Since I was 7 years old, Performing Arts Complex, which will be the performance until 7:59 PM the following day.
I’ve performed as a singer. I recorded my located at 4299 Leimert Boulevard at 43rd Tickets cannot be transferred or shared.
first appearance on radio in Detroit, Street in Leimert Park, CA. We have Barbara Morrison: Standing On Their TheWallis.org/SR
Michigan at the age of 10. My father told outgrown our former 2,000 square foot Shoulders 310.746.4000 (Tue.-Fri. 9:30 am – 2:30 pm)
me, “I want to be a singer like you.” When I space, and now it is time for expansion. ON DEMAND: Saturday, December Tickets@TheWallis.org
received a college scholarship, Dad told The space where there was once an auto 5, 2020, 8:00 PM
me to take the scholarship and be a role repair shop, a dry cleaner and a gas Launching The Wallis’ virtual Sorting
model to my siblings. I attended Eastern station, will now be converted into a Room Sessions, jazz and blues legend
Michigan University. All of my siblings Performing Arts Complex. We are Barbara Morrison, named by NPR one of
graduated from college. My younger hopeful, given the current pandemic, that the “50 Greatest Jazz Vocalists,” displays
sister is a City Treasurer in Michigan, my we might be able to open sometime in her stunning two-and-a-half-octave
baby brother is a Commission Officer in 2021.” range and rich, soulful, musical
Florida, and my baby sister is Head of “I stay busy! On Tuesdays and interpretations in Standing On Their
Immigration in Texas. The entire family Wednesdays, I teach music via Zoom as a Shoulders, a musical tribute to the iconic
has diabetes but we help each other. My UCLA Adjunct Associate Professor in the jazz and blues singers Billie Holiday,
parents have passed, as well as two Global Jazz Studies/Ethnomusicology Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and
brothers and one sister. I’m the oldest Department. Additionally, I perform and Ella Fitzgerald, and the songs they helped
living person in my family, with relatives teach Jazz and Blues Masters Classes at popularize. Over the course of her 61-
spread across the U.S. in California, Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, and year career, the three-time Grammy
Michigan, Florida and Texas because my at Columbia College in Sonora, CA. Award-nominee has performed with a
grandmother had 23 children.” Abroad I teach Master Classes at the virtual “Who’s Who” of the jazz and blues
“At age 25, I sought a divorce. My dad University of Sydney in Australia and St.
told me, “You used your own mind and you Mary’s College in Edinburgh, Scotland. “
took responsibility.” I was the only one in “People are curious how I became a
my family to divorce, but it saved my life. double amputee. I lost my first leg after a
“Use whoever you can to reach your goals, but woman ran a stop sign and hit me. The
don’t misuse nobody. Don’t be slick or sly.” accident caused such serious leg injuries and
I’ve lived with that advice from Dad all infection that doctors could not save it. At
my life. I have performed as a singer all age 42, I learned that I had adult onset
over the world, Tokyo, Paris, France, Italy, diabetes. I was totally in denial. I went to
Spain, Africa. My publicist calls me a an audition on Melrose but could barely
“Jazz & Blues Legend” and I am proud to walk. Seeing an Urgent Care Clinic, I
have been a featured vocalist on two limped in. The doctor asked how long had
Grammy Award-nominated albums, and I been diabetic? I replied, “I’m not diabetic.”
my Blue Lady Records company produced The doctor was young. I thought, “What
my third Grammy Award-nominated does she know?” I totally ignored her. A few
album. Carnegie Hall is my favorite days later, I fainted. The next doctor was
venue. I played Carnegie Hall then older, so I listened. By the time I was 50, my

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