Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
DeGeneres Surprises Fresno State's Viral Cymbals Player With 2020 Jeep
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
January 20, 2020

Share

You can see Fresno State marching band cymbals sensation Travis Morris get more than he wished for on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” at 4 p.m. today on CBS47.
Morris, a graduate of Clovis North High School, posted a tweet in November telling the show’s star that he could teach her “how to crash the cymbals.” He also asked to appear on her show.


DeGeneres introduced Morris during Monday’s show by saying he was a cure for anyone suffering from “the Monday blues.” Upon hearing his name, Morris jumped out of his seat and bounded for the stage.
She asked him, “Did you choose cymbals or was there nothing left?”
“My first choice was cymbals,” Morris answered. “People ask me, ‘What did you get cut from?’
“I’m like, ‘nothing. Cymbals is me. That’s what I do. And they’re like, ‘really?’ ”

Morris Given a 2020 Jeep Wrangler

Later, in response to a question, Morris explained that somebody slashed the tires on his bicycle. As a result, he walks, bums rides, or uses the bus to get to school, work, and volunteer activities.
That’s when DeGeneres led him backstage and said, “This is what happens for nice people.” Then they went behind the studio.
Awaiting Morris: a 2020 Jeep Wrangler courtesy of Shutterfly.
“This is so cool,” Morris said, sitting behind the wheel.
Considering all the positive publicity Morris has brought Fresno State, perhaps the university should gift him a lifetime campus parking pass.

How Morris Landed the Appearance

Landing the booking likely was helped by the fact that Morris has become an internet sensation. A video of Morris playing “Hey Pachuco” has more than 314,000 views on Twitter alone.
Helping Morris gain nationwide exposure: The popular sports website Bleacher Report posted the video with the caption “His energy is unmatched”

Fresno State marching band cymbals player Travis Morris
Travis Morris’ cymbals playing in “Hey Pachuco” became a viral hit. (Twitter/Travis Morris)

‘The Hype Man of the Valley’

Morris bills himself as “the hype man of the Valley” on social media — a title he says was bestowed on him by friends and Fresno State football fans.
“I live for performing and doing it for the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band just makes me happy,” Morris told ABC30 in November. “I’m blessed to represent Fresno.”
 

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

DON'T MISS

Trump Fires NSC Officials a Day After Far-Right Activist Raises Concerns to Him

DON'T MISS

China Halts Approvals for New US Investment Projects

DON'T MISS

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

DON'T MISS

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

DON'T MISS

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

DON'T MISS

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

DON'T MISS

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

UP NEXT

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

UP NEXT

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

UP NEXT

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

UP NEXT

Flores Homers, Matos and Wade Also Go Deep to Help Giants Cap Sweep of Astros

UP NEXT

After Briefly Disappearing, TikTok Went Back to Normal. Or Did It?

UP NEXT

Trump Proposes Tax Deduction for Auto Loan Interest on US-Made Cars

UP NEXT

Western US Sees Sharp Increase in Extreme Weather Impact

UP NEXT

The ‘Six’ Wives of King Henry VIII Sing Their Hearts Out in Fresno

UP NEXT

7-Year-Old Girl Was Killed by a Falling Boulder at a Lake Tahoe Ski Resort

UP NEXT

Val Kilmer, ‘Top Gun’ and Batman Star With an Intense Approach, Dies at 65

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

3 hours ago

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

3 hours ago

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

3 hours ago

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

4 hours ago

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

6 hours ago

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

6 hours ago

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

6 hours ago

Pentagon’s Watchdog to Review Hegseth’s Use of Signal App to Convey Plans for Houthi Strike

6 hours ago

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

7 hours ago

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

8 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

GV Wire’s Edward Smith talks with KMPH Fox 26 “Great Day” anchor Christina Rodriguez about the possibility of CEMEX digging a 600-foot hole ...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
2 hours ago

Trump Fires NSC Officials a Day After Far-Right Activist Raises Concerns to Him

2 hours ago

China Halts Approvals for New US Investment Projects

3 hours ago

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

3 hours ago

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

3 hours ago

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, seated right, gives a thumbs-up alongside his wife Lisa Oz, seated left, with friends and family after he testified at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP/Ben Curtis)
4 hours ago

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

6 hours ago

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend