Yes, this great world can become a serious place, but thanks to the talents of Impressionist Sylvia Traymore Morrison, life becomes more manageable with her wonderful art of comedic entertainment.
By Rodney W. Branche
By Rodney W. Branche
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Copa: Sylvia, where are you from?
Sylvia: I grew up in downtown Washington, DC on 16th and Corcoran Street - 12 blocks from the White House. |
Copa: Where did you attend school?
Sylvia: I went to Western High School which is now Duke Ellington. I started out at DC Teacher's College and ended up at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.
Sylvia: I went to Western High School which is now Duke Ellington. I started out at DC Teacher's College and ended up at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.
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Copa: When and where did you discover your unique talents?
Sylvia: I started performing before I can even remember. I knew I could hear things and repeat what I heard. For example, I would imitate my father's snoring or the sound of a bumble bee. It was crazy.
Sylvia: I started performing before I can even remember. I knew I could hear things and repeat what I heard. For example, I would imitate my father's snoring or the sound of a bumble bee. It was crazy.
Copa: We understand that performing on the stage takes much 'intestinal fortitude', how would you describe your confidence level?
Sylvia: First of all, let me say this, back in the day no one ever told me what confidence meant! LOL! Therefore, for whatever reason, I was never afraid or nervous, except for one time. I was singing on stage with 2 other girls and they could sing like birds. I didn't think I could sing like them so I was nervous that I would mess up. I later learned that I was the one THEY wanted to sing with. I tell ya. Life is crazy like that sometimes.
Sylvia: First of all, let me say this, back in the day no one ever told me what confidence meant! LOL! Therefore, for whatever reason, I was never afraid or nervous, except for one time. I was singing on stage with 2 other girls and they could sing like birds. I didn't think I could sing like them so I was nervous that I would mess up. I later learned that I was the one THEY wanted to sing with. I tell ya. Life is crazy like that sometimes.
Copa: Please tell us about your first big break in show business.
Sylvia: I believe my first BIG break came with the Miss Black America Contest. I was picked along with 3 other women to go overseas to entertain the United States servicemen and women. It was there I met Charles Brown, who was the manager for a Taste of Honey who by the way won a Grammy for "Boogie Oogie Oogie". He introduced me to Redd Foxx who became my first management. I have never had another manager since then.
Sylvia: I believe my first BIG break came with the Miss Black America Contest. I was picked along with 3 other women to go overseas to entertain the United States servicemen and women. It was there I met Charles Brown, who was the manager for a Taste of Honey who by the way won a Grammy for "Boogie Oogie Oogie". He introduced me to Redd Foxx who became my first management. I have never had another manager since then.
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Copa: Who are your favorite entertainers?
Sylvia: My favorite entertainers are Diana Ross, Earth, Wind and Fire (omg! they put on a spectacular show!). I love all of the Motown groups because it gives me a chance to remenince. I, of course, love watching Beyonce perform.
Sylvia: My favorite entertainers are Diana Ross, Earth, Wind and Fire (omg! they put on a spectacular show!). I love all of the Motown groups because it gives me a chance to remenince. I, of course, love watching Beyonce perform.
Copa: What are your favorite routines?
Sylvia: I like doing impressions of Wendy Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and all of my "Legends of Heaven."
Sylvia: I like doing impressions of Wendy Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and all of my "Legends of Heaven."
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Copa: Who in your best opinion were the best performers you have ever had the pleasure to work with?
Sylvia: Without a doubt, absolutely, completely, my favorite to work with has been Whitney Houston! I'm sorry Ms. Gladys Knight and Chaka Kahn. I loved working with you guys but Whitney did not play!
Sylvia: Without a doubt, absolutely, completely, my favorite to work with has been Whitney Houston! I'm sorry Ms. Gladys Knight and Chaka Kahn. I loved working with you guys but Whitney did not play!
Copa: Your latest book, tell us all about it!
Sylvia: Tell you about the book? Oh wow. You would say that I'm talking way too much! LOL! At any rate, people would always ask me questions on interviews or just casually, and I realized that evertime I would tell a story it would be fascinating so I started writing it down on paper. I realized I had stories about the great Duke Ellington, Patti Labelle, Stephanie Mills, Chaka Kahn, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Cher, Sammy Davis, Jr., Muhammad Ali, Whitney Houston, Dick Gregory, Melba Moore, Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx...oh the list goes on. And then life happened. I sat down back in 1995 and started writing about my experiences and by the grace of God put it in an actual book. I never wanted to be an author but I truly believe my blessings arrived with the help of God Almighty because the book has become one of those overnight reads according to all of the reviews.
Sylvia: Tell you about the book? Oh wow. You would say that I'm talking way too much! LOL! At any rate, people would always ask me questions on interviews or just casually, and I realized that evertime I would tell a story it would be fascinating so I started writing it down on paper. I realized I had stories about the great Duke Ellington, Patti Labelle, Stephanie Mills, Chaka Kahn, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Cher, Sammy Davis, Jr., Muhammad Ali, Whitney Houston, Dick Gregory, Melba Moore, Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx...oh the list goes on. And then life happened. I sat down back in 1995 and started writing about my experiences and by the grace of God put it in an actual book. I never wanted to be an author but I truly believe my blessings arrived with the help of God Almighty because the book has become one of those overnight reads according to all of the reviews.
Copa: What does the future hold for Sylvia Traymore Morrison?
Sylvia: In the coming future, I have no doubt about a movie. We already have two offers to do a book option. I often think about while I was writing the book how I had no clue what I was doing but I know for a fact that God did not give me all of this magnificent history, all of these wonderful experiences and stories and all of this extra personality (lol!) to just let it sit idly. I believe that. I really do. I just hope that when people learn that the term "Civil Rights Mother of Comedy" they will look at it as a good thing. I am so very thankful for my history and the fact that folks will know that a young Black Female Impressionist coming up 40+ years ago was not easy. However, I never knew because I believe God blinded me to the racism and sexism that I was exposed to that tried to damper me from continuing on. I'm very grateful for this. I really am.
Sylvia: In the coming future, I have no doubt about a movie. We already have two offers to do a book option. I often think about while I was writing the book how I had no clue what I was doing but I know for a fact that God did not give me all of this magnificent history, all of these wonderful experiences and stories and all of this extra personality (lol!) to just let it sit idly. I believe that. I really do. I just hope that when people learn that the term "Civil Rights Mother of Comedy" they will look at it as a good thing. I am so very thankful for my history and the fact that folks will know that a young Black Female Impressionist coming up 40+ years ago was not easy. However, I never knew because I believe God blinded me to the racism and sexism that I was exposed to that tried to damper me from continuing on. I'm very grateful for this. I really am.
~Copa